Lane County Historian

Elijah Bristow LANE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Vol. XIII, No. 3 Eugene, Oregon Fall, 1968 LANE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Mrs. C. A. Huntington, President 740 West 13th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97402 Dr. E. E. Gray, Membership Secretary 450 1. Goodpasture Rd., Space #45, Eugene, Oregon 97401 Mrs. Stoddard Malarkey, Editor 2075 East 27th Avenue, Eugene, Oregon 97403 Manuscripts submitted for publication should be typewritten and double-spaced.Ifthe author wishes to retain his copy, then please submit a duplicate copy for consideration. CONTENTS A SHORT HISTORICAL SKETCH OF A PART OF THE BRISTOW FAMILY 63 By Fannie Leggett HISTORY AND ROUTES OF THE EUGENE TO MAPLETON STAGE RUN 69 By Loris F. Inman THE LURE OF GOLD 76 By Leah C. Menefee EARLY PETITION 79

Susanna Bristow

62 _A Short J'hitorica/ Shth0/aPart o/ ih /3ristow 7am4 By Fannie Leggett* In writing this sketch of a part latter trades, as they were his fa- of the Bristow family of vorites, together with the occu- Lane County, Oregon, it is not my pation of a farmer, until old age intention to give all minor details palsied his arm and he was unable of the work done by these people, to do further work. but to help preserve the history for He was the first in his locality future generations, and to leave the to volunteer his services to his thought with you of how anxious country when war was declared. civilization of the West. He was in the war of 1812 and they were to do their part in the was an active participant in the Mr. James Bristow, who was of battle of Taladega with the Creek English descent, came to the Unit- nation. His accurate marksman- ed States when a small boy. Some ship soon brought him under the years later he married Miss Delilah special notice of General Jackson, Elkins. They had three children who took occasion to put him fre- born to them, all in Taswell Coun- ty, Virginia. quently on special duty and in The mother of these children other places of honor. died, and James Bristow took for On November 7, 1812, he was his second wife Miss Betsy Cleven- married in Overton County, Ten- ger. They became the parents of nessee, to Miss Susanna Gabbert. a large family. Some of the chil- She was born August 23, 1791, in dren of their son, Wesley, became the same county. They moved from residents of Oregon. Tennessee to Cumberland County, Elijah Bristow, the oldest child Kentucky, in about 1819 or 1820. of James and Delilah Elkins Bris- From here they moved to Mc- tow, was born in Taswell County, Coupin County, Illinois, in about Virginia, on the 28th of April, 1827. Later on they moved to Mc- 1788. His boyhood days were Donough County, w h e r e t h e y spent in the mountainous regions lived for about twenty-three years. of Virginia, where his early - During the Black Hawk war, ing accustomed him to the wood- his neighbors, becoming alarmed, man's ways and to the use of fire built a fort in which to place their arms. Here he rapidly b e c a m e families for safety. In order to noted as an expert marksman and quiet their fears, Mr. Bristow vol- hunter. His surroundings and early unteered to go to the front and training caused him to have a rest- ascertain if any immediate danger less spirit of adventure, and upon was pending; in doing this he went arriving at manhood, he turned alone from his home to Kock Island his face westward, and emigrated and back, a distance of over a to Kentucky. Here he commenced hundred miles. T h e c o u n t r y the improvement of a home, ac- through which he traveled was quiring in the meantime, the dif- very peaceful. He returned to his ferent trades of hatter, blacksmith, neighbors, quieted their fears, and and gunsmith. He followed the two caused the 1 i t t 1 e settlement to *Fannje Leggett of Ashland is the oldest daughter of Alice and Lewis Cornelius. 63 again resume its round of daily with a most beautiful, luxuriant occupations. green, while your vision is attract- Elijah left his home and family ed on every hand by evergreens, at Blandensville,Illinois,in the firs, cedars, and pines, that raise spring of 1845, f o r t h e Pacific their stately tops to mingle about coast. He crossed the plains by ox in vapors that float above. All team. The winter of 1845 was around in almost every direction spent at Sutter Fort, California. can be seen different mountain The outlook here was not satis- peaks. Mr. Bristow gave appropri- factory. It was that summer that ate and significant names to all he, with other home-seekers, rode these peaks. He staked his claim ponies from California to Oregon on the ridge ever since known as on an Indian trail, as there were Pleasant Hill. no wagon roads. Many Lane County people are Elijah Bristow, in the spring of at present familiar with the Pleas- 1846, travelling on the old terri- ant Hill spring and grove where torial road which passed through the annual May Day picnicis the Siuslaw Valley where Lorane held. It was near this spring in the now stands, passed t h e present beautiful fir grove, that the party sites of Crow, Elmira, and Mon- of home seekers camped. His com- roe, on down the west side of the panions located in different parts valley to Rickreall. of the valley. There are very few Sometime in June, 1846, he left people who know that at Mr. Bris- the home of James Howard, on the tow's request, the first territorial Rickreall River, in what is now legislature passed an act naming Polk County, in company with Wil- his donation claim of 640 acres, liam Dodson, Felix Scott, and Eu- Pleasant Hill. That name stands gene Skinner, to come up the val- on the statutes of Oregon today as ley to locate near where Salem one can see from the official rec- now stands. ords of the Territorial Government. They came up the east side of In the early spring of 1848 the the valley to where the village of settlers were frequently disturbed Jasper is located, and finding the by Indians. A band of Klamath valley becoming quite narrow, they Indians came over the mountains forded the middle work to the on the old Indian t r a ii leading south side, coming out of the strip down the middle fork of the Wil- of timber along the Willamette lamette river, creating a very un- river near what was at one time easy feeling among the little band called Uncle John Shelley's home. of settlers at Pleasant Hill. The There they saw in front of them a firsthostileact was shown by low ridge covered with scattering killing an ox belonging to Cor- oak trees with timbered mountains nelius Hills. The settlers, five or rising above it. Mr. Bristow rising six in number, headed by Elijah in his stirrups, turned to his com- Bristow, armed themselves a n d panions, saying, "There I will take started in pursuit. While on this my claim; and I am going to name search for the Indians, they came it Pleasant Hill. That ridge with across a stream which was between the mountains in the background them and the butte from which reminds me of my boyhood home they expected to locate the Indians. in old Virginia." As a result, this butte was named At one glance of the eye you Butte Disappointment. can behold the oak, ash, and maple Later in the season one of the trees. The earth here is covered tribe came to the Bristow cabin 64 and made threats of what he and Hendricks, Robert Callison, Michall his people were going to do to the and Harrison Shelley, and others settlers. This was too much for came and settled on Pleasant Hill. Mr. Bristow, he quickly reached Some of the family have ren- for his rifle but away ran the In- dered important aid in the legisla- dian who was followed by a shot tion of the state. Elijah Bristow from the gun. The marksman saw served on the first jury ever held him tumble and crawl out of sight in Polk County. They also helped into the brush. Later, a Molalla in the preparation for the common living near the butte, came down schools and colleges. to the settlement and told Mr. Bris- Mrs. Bristow was the mother of tow that the Klamath had died fifteen children. She lived a life of from the effect of the wound the true devotion to her family, her day after he was shot. Mr. Bristow church and her God. Although replied, "The whole tribe must go there, were trials and hardships, back east of the mountains or I joys and sorrow in the pioneer's shall exterminate every one of life, she, by her patience, a n d them." Christian fortitude, did much to- In 1848 Pleasant Hill was visited wards making her husband's life by Klickitat Indians who were do- happy and successful. ing damage in the upper Willam- Mr. Bristow was lovingly called ette Valley. Five of this tribe visit- "Uncle Bristow" by hisclosest ed the Pleasant Hill ranch, killed a friends, for they all had a warm fatted ox and carried away part of affection for him. Although unedu- it. Later another tribe visited him. cated, he had the natural qualities Elijah Bristow, to show courage, which made him a leader of men. caught one of them and flogged He erected the first house in Lane him severely. The next day he was County, located in the vicinity of surrounded by thirteen braves who Pleasant Hill. Although this prop- demanded pay for the whipping of erty is now owned by other parties their brother. This he refused and and the house has been destroyed, in the same instant seized a hand- the rocks from the chimney have spike and struck at the Indian been made into a memorial foun- nearest him. He missed the man tain in his honor which t od a y and killed his horse. This was too stands not far from the Pleasant much for the braves who turned Hill church. and fled with old Grandpa Bristow From 1848 to the time when after them armed with his hand- "Uncle Bristow" laid the founda- spike. tion of the first log cabin until After selling the farm in Illinois, some time in the fifties, communi- the family and some friends began cation by letter with relatives in the long toilsome journey across the "states" was limited. The early the plains to the new-found home. pioneer knew little of what was Captain Hale drove one of Mrs. taking place in the outside world. Bristow's teams while "Uncle Wil- Letters were generally sent across liam" Bristow drove another. Dur- the plains by emigrants, and fre- ing the year immigration swelled quently failed to reach their destin- the population of the country to ation. He wrote fifteen letters, one more than double the former num- to each of his children, telling them ber. The family arrived in 1848 and of the country "Where rolls the located in this same vicinity where Oregon." He told them to sell what their descendants stillreside. At they could not bring with them and this same time James and Caswell come to him as there was room for 65 all. Those letters were carried back little community would have on across the plains by George Jack- the state of his adoption. Believing son, who afterwards lived for many that education and the religion of years in Clackamas County, Ore- Jesus Christ was the hope of the gon. The letters arrived in Illinois new community, he gave from his in September. W h e n t h e news homestead forty acres of suitable spread that Elijah Bristow had land for the use of school and written home about Oregon, people church purposes. came from far and near to hear On August 4, 1850, he organized the letters read. the Christian Church with twenty- The mail reached Pleasant Hill, three members, in the old log Oregon from the E a s t coming school house. Mr. Bristow was the around Cape Horn by water to only elder in Pleasant Hill at that Oregon City, then up to Salem, time. He remained an elder until from there to Eugene. Here a man his death. "Uncle Bristow" had by the name of Smiley Carter car- been baptized in 1837 or 1838. It ried it to Pleasant Hill, where Eli- occured in a little stream, a branch jah Bristow acted as Postmaster. of Crooked Creek, two miles from Mr. Bristow gave the ground for the town of Blandinsville, McDon- the first school house which was ough County, Illinois, and only a built in the fall of 1849.It,of quarter of a mile from his own course, was made of logs, and a house. Uncle Henry, his son, says huge fireplace occupied or adorned that Crooked Creek is almost as the greater portion of one end of large as the Coast Fork opposite the building. It was built by Elijah Pleasant Hill! Two or three years Bristow assisted by his sons and after his baptism, he and several two sons-in-law, Robert Callison others cut and hewed trees and and James Hendricks. Some grand- built a church about half a mile sons lent a helping hand. The loca- from the spot where he was bap- tion of this school house is now tized. He called it the Liberty inside the Pleasant Hill cemetery, Meeting House. at the southwest corner. In March He was still a member of this of that year, William W. Bristow church when he crossed the plains. began the first term of school in He deeded four acres of the ground the new far western settlement. for the church. A cemetery is now "Uncle Bristow" donated the where the church stood, and the ground for the grave yard. The membership of the church all first death was probably that of a transferred to Blandinsville. Mr. traveler coming from California, Bristow died in September 19, who was stopping with "Uncle 1872, at the age of eighty-four Bristow." This is the oldest ceme- years. He left a large family and tery in Lane County. circle of friends, the rich legacy The children hunted game in of a long life of usefullness and the woods, gathered nuts and ber- untarnished honor. His wife quietly ries from the forest, romped and followed him in that better land played on the commons, or angled on March 7, 1874, in her eighty- for fish in the streams for an oc- third year. cupation. All was joy and promise Abel Bristow was the second son to Elijah Bristow, who looked on of Elijah and Susanna Bristow. He the pleasing transformation with was born in Cumberland County, joy mingled with anxiety, realizing Kentucky, Jan. 6, 1819, and was the effort for good or evil that this baptized two or three years after 66 his father, Elijah Bristow, in the one years, having lived in the state same stream. The ice was two feet sixty-nine years. Mrs. Almira Bris- thick and a hole had to be cut tow was the last one of the charter through so that his ordinance members of the Pleasant Hill could be performed. Before coming church, which was organized in to Oregon he helped to build the 1850. It is now the oldest Church "Liberty Meeting House." of Christ west of the Rocky Moun- "Uncle Abel" Bristow was mar- tains. ried to Miss Almira Kelly Gooch, The funeral services were con- January 26, 1843, and they came ducted at the Pleasant Hill Chris- to Oregon with his family and rel- tian church, at one o'clock, Friday, atives, making the trip by ox team. March 9th, 1917, Bro. P. R. Bur- They started from Wacomb, Illi- nett officiating. She was laid to nois in April and reached Oregon rest by the side of her husband in on October 22, 1848. He took up the Pleasant Hill cemetery. To a donation claim; the house in them were born seven children. which they lived was built in the Alice Helena Bristow, Abel and Almira Bristow's second daughter, early fifties. It is still standing. was born at Pleasant Hill and Mr. Bristow died May 29, 1881, spent her girlhood days on the at the age of sixty-two years, four farm, with the exception of two or months and twenty-three days. He three winters that she lived with was buried on the 30th of May, her grandparents, Elijah and Su- which was his wife's 56th birthday. sanna Bristow, while she was at- Abel Bristow's wife was born May tending the Pleasant Hill school. 30, 1825, in Illinois, where in later She was a careful student ready to years, Beardstown was founded. use the dictionary at all times and She was the second white child was always exceptionally good in born in those parts. She was the remembering dates. She was a eldest of the two daughters of Sam- lover of song books. Because of uel and Ruth Powers Gooch. her blindness, for many months In her early days in Oregon Mrs. before her death she would sing Abel Bristow devoted considerable and sing and put the rest of her time to the study of medicine, be- family to shame. She was a good ing called upon many times to al- mother, very energetic, and always leviate the suffering of her neigh- found herself busy in the duties of bors, where she rode many miles home life. on horse back. Her sister, Mrs. Alice Bristow was born August Malvina Willis died in Cottage 10, 1852, at Pleasant Hill, Oregon, Grove after she had reached her where she spent most of her life. 103rd birthday. She was a pioneer of the Christian Grandma enjoyed reading the church becoming a member at the Bible, having read the New Testa- age of fourteen years. At the time ment through forty times within of her death she had been a mem- her last eight years, and had read ber for sixty-eight years. as far as the ninth chapter of Luke She was married to L. J. Cor- on the forty-first time, when she nelius at Pleasant Hill, March 14, was stricken with paralysis. She 1878. P. R. Burnett performed the lived a life of true devotion to her ceremony. They spent a few years God and her church amid the joys of their early married life in the and sorrow, the trials and hard- Pleasant Hill country. ships of pioneer life. She died on From there they moved to March 7, 1917, at the age of ninety- Springfield, where Mr. Cornelius 67 was engaged in running a ferry 1847. After the father's death, the boat for two years across the Wil- mother spent some time with her lamette River. Leaving there, they two sons, Millard at Pleasant Hill moved into the Siuslaw country, on the farm, and Archie at Anlauf, to a homestead where they made Oregon. Much more of her time their home for fourteen years. As she spent with her oldest daughter, Fannie, in Ashland, and for the their family of five children was last four years of her life made growing and they saw the need of her home with her. a better opportunity for school, Mrs. Cornelius died on Septem- they moved back to Pleasant Hill, ber 14, 1934, at the age of eighty April 12, 1896. two years, one month and four About this time the Abel Bris- days. Though she is greatly missed, tow land claim was divided and we know she has gone to her re- they moved on their part of the ward, trusting the God she loved claim, consisting of about one hun- and served all these years. dred acres. They immediately be- Her sister, Mrs. Genoa Robineet, gan to improve the land and make preceded her in death sixteen days. a comfortable home. The only survivor of Abel and Al- On September 7, 1925, Mr. L. J. mira Bristow is Mrs. Delilah B. Cornelius died at the Goshen Hos- Todd, who makes her home with pital. He was born in Randolph her son, Dr. E. B. Todd, in Con- County, , September 22, cord, California.

Elijah Bristow home at Pleasant Hill 68 Jhs lor5fand Routei of ihe Cu1jeneto map/don Sla1je leun By Loris F. Inman The actual time of beginning of The postmaster's pay was the the mail route from Eugene to stamps he sold. The mail consisted Mapleton has not been ascertained. mostly of letters and upon arrival There would be no mail route with- of the mail, the postmaster took out a post office and vice versa. the mail pouch to the living room The dates of post offices are given and dumped its contents on the in order from Eugene: floor. He then proceeded w i t h Long Tom established Sept. 3, the help of everyone present to 1853, first postmaster A. L. Hum- sort the mail. phrey. (This post office may have The route of the rider had few, been on the Eugene to Crow route if any bridges; the pony soon be- by this time.) came adept at swimming streams. Elmira established March 4, Horses used for stage horses were 1884, first postmaster I. N. Duck- usually very spirited and they worth. would often balk or run away. Chesher (Noti) established April 1, 1875, first postmaster J. P. Florence Curtis Inman, whose Chesher. father carried mail on the Crow- Hale established Aug. 4, 1886, Hadleyville - Panther-Alma -Mound first postmaster George Hale. route, remembers the pony he rode Walton established June 12, and swam it across the Siuslaw as 1884, first postmaster J. J. Walton a matter of course. (later judge). Elijah Bristow, the first settler Glentena (Austa) established in Lane County arrived in 1845 July 26, 1888, first postmaster A. from California; his family arrived C. Barbour. in 1848 from across the plains. Meadows established Aug. 30, Accompanying the family was Cal- 1887, first postmaster Levi Tall- vin T. Hale, 21, who returned to man. the states and led a wagon train Mapleton(Seaton)established west in 1852. An old Indian told Nov. 13, 1885, first postmaster W. him of a little valley on an upper W. Neeley. tributary of the Long Tom. He Mapleton post office was served sought it out and named it Elk by boat from Florence before the Prairie. His claim took most of stage route was started. After the the valley, including the bottom stage route was started, mail, pas- ground along Elk Creek and spring sengers, and freight were trans- watered hillside land, completely ferred from stage to boat for the surrounded by high hills. He built trip on down the river to Florence. his cabin on the old trail to the Early post offices in the outlying Wildcat and Siuslaw Rivers, some areas of Lane County were served two miles vrest of present Noti. He once a week by a rider on horse- had three sons and three daughters back. It was mostly a case of con- and spent the rest of his life on venience for himself and an accom- his claim. modation to his neighbors to have As the became the mail delivered close at hand. settled and the good land taken, 69 other settlers began to search out the north bank of the Siuslaw in homesites across the divide and winter was almost an impossibility. down the narrow valleys of the The most serious threat was the Wildcat and Siuslaw Rivers. Since mouth of Lake Creek inflood. Calvin Hale's claim was the last The best solution was to go down one west before the divide, it be- Nelson Creek and ford it before came the last stopping place be- reaching Lake Creek, then take fore leaving the valley. Lake Creek above the side streams There were two trails leaving of Deadwood Creek and Indian Elk Prairie for the Siuslaw: One Creek, then each of those two trail led over Badger Mountain, streams on the way down the west down the Wildcat, using the river- side of Lake Creek. By taking them bed part of the way. In winter and one at a time, the danger was not at flood time it was a dangerous nearly as great as fording Lake trail, sometimes impossible even Creek below the mouth of these for pack animals. Florence Inman, and smaller streams. On this route who once lived near the pack ani- the Siuslaw was not crossed at all. mal trail over the mountains near The latter trail was the first to the Mound P.O. on the Middle be used by wagons. This was the Siuslaw, says the old road to Eu- first mail route to Mapleton, first gene forded the river twenty-seven by pack horse. There are stories times. of a Dutchman who carried the The other trail led over Chicka- mail by horse and two-wheeled hominy Mountain, down to t h e cart. Next the Whisman brothers, headwaters of Chickahominy Joe and John, got a contract to Creek, on over Nelson Mountain carry the mail. They improved the and down Nelson Creek to Lake trail as much as they could with Creek, which it forded and followed little or no equipment. By follow- down to the Siuslaw. The reason ing the ridges they avoided grad- for the trail over Chickahominy ing, but the road was steep, so and Nelson Mountains to Lake steep that there are tales of tying Creek was a sort of "divide and logs to the back of the wagon on conquer" technique: To go down some downhill slopes.

Long Tom Bridge - Elmira 70 As the Whismans grew accus- then cross Chickahominy Moun- tomed to the road, they added two tain and come down to Elk Prairie horses to make a four-horse team near Calvin Hale's place for a dir- and began to haul passengers and ect route to Eugene. He raised his freight. The drivers seemed to be family on the homestead, which afraid of nothing, but they some- had a sizeable amount of level times terrified their passengers. ground along the river and made The following article was taken a good farm. When post offices of from the April 8, 1892 issue of Seaton(later Mapleton), Dead- The West, published in Florence wood, Hale, Chesher, Elmira and by Alley and Blinton: Long Tom were established, this was then the only practical year- Joseph Whisman, stage driver, round route to serve them. Whether came near losing his life while at- he and his brother, John, initiated tempting to cross Deadwood Creek the route or not has not been Wednesday morning of last week. established. After having dispatched his passen- gers, mail sacks and baggage Item from county surveyor's of- across by a log foot path, he start- fice: "Chickahominy road No. 573 ed to cross. Midway of the stream across Chickahominy Mountain where the current was the swif t- was relocated by County road sup-, est, his horses, four in number erintendent C. E. Carlyle in 1905 were thrown from their feet by and is now closed. The route was the current and became tangled in the same or followed near the one the harness. To save himself, Joe made by Whisman brothers." jumped into the stream and was We have no dates until 1879, carried down stream about one when a survey was begun for a quarter mile. His brother, John, state road to go down the Wildcat and nine year old boy made good and the main stem of the Siuslaw. time in reaching a log canoe and Here is an article that appeared in paddled 'out to the rescue. They the Eugene Guard April 16, 1879, pulled in the apparently lifeless in form of a letter: form of Joe and paddled to the Mr. H. C. Perkins, head of sur- shore and there at once began roll- vey party and surveying party for ing on a log. This operation was the survey of the Siuslaw wagon continued for some time but no road reached Mr. T. C. Hale's on life was apparent, still they worked Wed., April 9. Here they were met faithfully on and were finally by the viewers Messers H. Hill, W. awarded by signs of returning life. Hamilton and S. McConnell. Not- There is no question but that he withstanding dame Nature's indis- was dead when taken from the position we punched out into the water. The horses were all pelting rain and commence the drowned. They were pulled into work. We arrived at this camp on shallow water, unharnessed and last Saturday evening, having sur- allowed to float on down stream. veyed 61/2 miles of the road. This Joe Whisman's homestead was camp is located at the junction of at the mouth of Nelson Creek on theChickahominy and Wildcat the west side of Lake Creek. His Creeks, and is 25 miles west and 2 shortest route to the outside and miles south of Eugene City. Below to Eugene was to ford Lake Creek, the junction of the two creeks the then follow up Nelson Creek to stream is called Wildcat and it Nelson Mountain, then cross the unites with the Siuslaw about 5 divideto Chickahominy Creek, miles south and west of this place. 71 The camping equipage and provi- canvas at once their respective pre- sions have been transported to this cinct and report the results." The place by means of pack animals but quote is longer than this, but this for the remainder of the trip the shows the date and motive. The viewer have concluded it can be effort to raise $1000 was success- more expeditiously done by taking ful. This was a small amount for a canoe down the Wildcat, thence over 20 miles of road, and in 1887 down the Siuslaw to the terminus it had only reached Beecher and of the survey. The canoe has been Tilden Rocks above the mouth of constructed and will be ready to Lake Creek. These rocks were a move the camp today. The trip barrier at high water for many thus far has been verydisagree- years. At low water the river bed able on account of the rain, but at could be used. A steep detour was present fair weather seems to be found up and over the rocks; the dawning upon us. drivers named it Hardscrabble. In reaching this point from the Some time before 1900 Eli Bangs Willamette Valley Badger Hill on of Bangs Livery Stable of Eugene the east side is 1207 feet at the top won the contract to carry the mail of the hill which is 3/of a mile over the Eugene to Mapleton run. distant from the bottom the height He held the contract until the rail- is 1475 feet above the sea, making road in 1914 replaced the stage an ascent of 366 feet per mile. The route. At least three of the drivers grade on this side of the hill is of the old stage run are still living equally as gradual. The route from and bring alive for us some of the here to the coast is a gradual des- dangers and hardships of the road. cent down the Siuslaw river. The Em Duckworth, born 1879, began route according to what is now driving when 20 years of age and known of it is by far the most drove continuously until 1914. He favorable of any yet known for a had the run from Mapleton to wagon road across the coast moun- Hale then back to Mapleton. tains." The stage schedule before Em The letter continues the descrip- Duckworth was a driver is not cer- tions of the route, but thisis tain. Em remembers the schedule enough for a date and information after he began to drive about 1900. of the preparation for construction. It was as follows: Leave Eugene 6 In 1880 an article appeared in the o'clock each morning. Arrive Hale, same paper describing a public noon if possible. Arrive Mapleton meeting in Eugene to begin con- 6 o'clock if possible. Also in the struction on the road down the opposite direction: Leave Maple- Siuslaw: ton 6 o'clock each morning. Arrive Eugene Guard, 1881: "Siuslaw Hale noon if possible. Arrive Eu- road association meeting Eugene, gene 6 o'clock if possible. Oregon 31st of May at the court- Joe Fowler's and George Hale's house pursuant to public notice to were the places to stop for dinner. consider the practicability of open- Thus a driver left both Mapleton ing a wagon road from Elk Prairie and Eugene each morning. The in Chesher precinct to tide water drivers traded stage coaches at on the Siuslaw river on a route Hale at noon ifpossible. Fresh heretofore located by the county. horses were hitched to each stage The board met and appointed the then the drivers each took his new following committees to canvas for outfit on to its destination. Horses subscriptions with the request they were changed at Elmira, one- 72 fourth the total distance, Hale, one- half to total distance, Meadows, three-fourths the total distance. They always greased the wagon in the covered bridge a c r o s s the mouth of Lake Creek and at Lyons. At each post office along the route the driver rested the horses while the mail was being sorted and sacked. Each patron had a separate canvas sack with his num- ber and name on it and a strap across the top. At each home there was a post with a hook at the top that the driver could reach from the stage coach seat. Thus the driver made the mail deliveries at each home on his way out and picked up the sacks on his way back. No matter what time at night the stage arrived at Eugene or Mapleton it had to start the return at 6 o'clock the next morning. The day that Lester Ogden had a horse killed on Hardscrabble, the stage arrived at 4 o'clock the next morn- ing, but the driver met the dead- line and started back at 6 o'clock on schedule. In 1899 Mrs. Ellis (Dena) Rich- The Old Mon of the Siuslaw, visible from old ardson remembers that she, her stage road below Swisshome. mother and sister rode to Seaton from Mapleton where they stayed o'clock, December 20 or 21 and all night. Indian Jeff had shot an- continued to Hale at 9 o'clock in other Indian at Florence. Mrs. the evening. They changed horses Richardson knew the Indian. She at Elmira. Another man had to get was so scared she wouldn't go to to Eugene, but Zumwalt refused to bed, so they told her Indian Jeff take him, so the passengers helped was down in the barn and she went him climb on the mail sack on the to bed, but the next day she back of the stage. He rode to Eu- learned that the Indian had slept gene and slid off at Blair Street in the bedroom next to hers. without paying fare. On the way Mrs. Richardson also remembers they got stuck in the mud at pres- December 21, 1911, on her honey- ent Elveta. It took some time to moon, that they rode the stage to get the horses out of the mire, Eugene from Mapleton. There were and itarrived in Eugene at 3 13 passengers. Reece Zumwalt was o'clock the next morning. driving from Hale to Eugene. The An open top stage was used on road was very bad and the stage this route as a covered stage would was overloaded. Mrs. Richardson not go under Tilden Rock. The remembers they left Mapleton, 6 rock hung completely over the 73 road and could be reached by rid- Em remembers that Charlie ers on the stage. Taylor started across the bridge Ira Jeffers drove the stage for a at Meadows with the stage and short time in about 1910. It was the covering caved in. Fortunately, winter and very disagreeable. They he escaped unharmed. put the meanest horses on the Darwin Hale remembers that stage to work the meanness out of Lester Ogden was driving the year them. On one trip down river the after the Green Gay slide, one to storm had blown a tree across the one-and-a-half miles below Walton, road near Tilden Rock, and he had and while he was climbing Hard- to camp overnight under the rock. scrabble, the steep climb across He decided there must be better Beecher and Tilden Rocks, in a bad jobs than that! windstorm, a falling tree killed a horse. He had a young female in- When the route over Chicka- valid as a passenger whom he car- hominy and Nelson Mountains was ried onto the George Kirk place abandoned and the route over Bad- the nearest house. He later married ger Mountain and down the Wild- the girl. cat and Siuslaw was begun, the Farmer Hale remembers the stage missed Deadwood P.O. Annie death of Sheriff Withers. The Sher- Whisman, daughter of Joe Whis- iff had gone over Badger Moun- man, carried the mail on horseback tain to get Elliot Lyons for steal- from Swisshome to Deadwood. One ing a horse. Lyons shot the Sher- day, horse and rider unexpectedly iff and he was brought back to met a bear on the road. The horse Hale, bleeding badly. The following reared, threw Annie off, and ran is taken from a transcript of a con- away. Supposedly the bear ran, versation between the writer and too. When Annie fell, she hit her Farmer Hale: head so hard she was in a daze Yes, he shot him along after and couldn't remember whether dark. Then in the night the Lyons she was headed toward Swisshome brotherstwo of his brot hers or towards Deadwood. put him in a wagon and brought The reader will be interested in him over here to our place and several other memories of the he was here at our house.. .I route to Mapleton: was just a small kid and I can re- Em Duckworth remembers on member that they had him on a the trip downriver in winter that pretty high bed, and I can remem- lanterns were lighted and hung on ber my dad lifted me up and I the outside hame of each horse at could see where the bullet struck Meadows, fifteen miles from Maple- him, right here where they stick ton. The rest of the way was in a hog with a knife. There was more darkness. Mr. Duckworth also re- people here than there was in Eu- members that one morning when gene the few days after that. I the stable hand hitched his horses think they were about all out here. to the stage at Mapleton, he forgot There wasn't a place to hitch a to undo the lines from the hames. horse. ... They convicted him for When Emclimbed into the seat shooting Withers and he was hung the horses started and he had no right there on the jail yard, right lines to control them. He decided there in Eugene. Fred Fisk was to ride it out, and the horses kept sheriff. to the road. They ran two miles to Lois Inman Baker, whose Uncle the Neely place and stopped at Jesse Inman was once a s t a g e their regular stop. driver, remembers the bells on the 74 hames of the horses. The purpose APPENDIX II was to alert anyone ahead of the FROM COUNTY COURT RECORDS coming of the stage. The post- In the county records, the following master was alerted, too. Their were found concerning Siuslaw road: purpose, however, was on the long May 7, 1875 C. T. Hale petitioned for a county road across Elk Prairie. Petition stretches of single-width road was granted and survey began May 24, along the river, so that approach- 1875. ing vehicles could wait at a pass- July 1879 the county court declared the ing place and not meet them where Siuslaw road to be a public highway. September 1882 R. B. Hayes, supervisor, one or the other would have to was instructed to open as much of the back up to pass. Siuslaw road between T. C. Hale's and tidewater as possible. He was allowed APPENDIX I $1500.00 for the project. DRIVERS April 29, 1886 contract let to John Brown 14. Jesse Inman tocomplete Siuslaw road.Contract Dutchman 15. Elza Pickard price $1150.44. $600 payable when road with cart 16. Frank Taylor around Plymouth Rock completed. $550 John Whisman17. Bill Taylor payable when restisapproved by Joe Whisman 18. Pearl Cartwright Superintendent. Lester Ogden 19. Ed Walker July 29, 1887 contract let to L. N. Roney Plas Bailey 20. Ray Walker to build a bridge across the mouth of Tom Murphy 21. Joe Fowler Lake Creek. Bid price $3875.00. Bridge Bert Gates 22. Oscar Richie to be open for travel by Oct. 15, 1887. Reese Zumwalt 23. Ernest Mabe This is the Swisshome bridge which Earl McNutt 24. Billy Wells opened the road for year around traf- Darwin Hale 25. Bill Hamilton fic. There was a road already in use Em Duckworth 26. Ira Jeffers from Swisshome at the mouth of Lake Charles Taylor Creek to the head of tide.

Sta9e Coach on Eugene to Mapleton Run 75 Jhe ,fure0/ co/I By Leah C. Menefee A great deal has been written a vast dry basin and there are about the various "gold rushes" in numbers of streams that are dry the United States, with the chief by fall. These parties came back emphasis on the discovery at Sut- as silently as they had left, empty- ter's Mill in California. Oregon, handed. The adventurous still look however, had its gold too and per- for it today with jeep and trail haps the most famous of her dis- bike replacing the pack horses and coveries is known as the Blue of another century. Bucket. It was and still is usually It will never be known how many called a "mine" but mine it never parties actually looked for Blue was for it was never worked. It Bucket gold in the years after the was merely discovered. Meek train crossed eastern Oregon. The story is that in 1845 an emi- Some gathered large partiesfor grant train guided by Stephen H. the area was inhabited by hostile L. Meek attempted a cut-off from northern Paiutes. The newspapers the at the Maiheur of the day often reported on these river to the upper Willamette val- parties. One left Lane county in ley. There were about two hundred 1858 and included A. S. McClure and fifty wagons and over one and Henry Harlow, one keeping thousand people. Someonestories a diary and the other telling many differ as to whopicked up some tales of the journey. stones in a dry stream bed and The 1858 party, from all ac- placed them in a blue bucket. counts, was bent partly at least on Hence the name of the "find." It finding gold but also on having a was not until sometime later that trip. It was well-supplied with it occured to Meek train people whatever was needed and was out that this was goldor so the some weeks. They covered a good stories run. deal of eastern Oregon, saw no In- Gold meant nothing to people dians, found no gold and at least who lacked food, were ill, distrust- one account makes the journey ed their guide and wished only to sound like a fall jaunt of bachelors get out of the predicament into who wanted to get away from the which they had allowed him to home chores. lead them. They revolted, turned In 1859 Capt. Henry D. Wallen north and came out on the Oregon led troops into the eastern Oregon Trail again at the Columbia river, country from the army post at blue bucket, nuggets and all. The Dalles. He was seeking a route It was when gold was discovered for a new cross-Oregon road. There in California that the eastern Ore- is no indication in Wallen's official gon discovery began to be talked report that gold was looked for en about. Meek, himself, looked for route to the Oregon Trail at old the spot where the nuggets were Fort Boise on Snake river. How- picked up. Some parties slipped ever, among the 184 enlisted men away from the Willamette valley with Wallen it would be strange to look for the dry stream bed if someone did not have an eye somewhere north, or was it south for each dry stream bed which the of Harney and Malheur lakes? Or command crossed. It was a large was it east or west of them? It is party, 319 persons in all with 154 76 horses, 344 mules, 121 oxen, 30 An account of his life, and inci- wagons, an ambulance, a traveling dentally of this adventure, was forge, and 60 head of beef cattle written by Robert Millican, of Lane to furnish meat for the assemblage. County. His daughter, Mrs. Ada What a treat to the grasshopper- Millican Brewbaker, of Eugene, eating Indians of the basin this had kindly allowed us to use this must have been. Wallen did name narrative, the original of which Harney lake for his commander, is in Millican's own hand-writing. General Harney. The Indian attack was far more In May and June 1860, knowing serious than Mr. Millican's matter- that another army detachment was of-fact account indicates. It was no coming south from , small accomplishment that men and that Superintendent of Indian escaped and managed to reach Affairs for Oregon, E. R. Geary home at all. The attack took place was planning to be in the Harney June 7th, 1860 and 63 h o r s e s country to make a treaty with the were run off in this surprise. A Mr. Snakes, as the northern Paiutes Leggett (or Liggett) had wounded were more popularly known, an- himself in the foot June 2nd, and other civilian Blue Bucket junket was therefore not ambulatory. Two was arranged. A group of men other men were ill. It appears that from Linn, Lane and Benton coun- the first Indian attack was after ties, decided to make an attempt the horses and probably to stam- to find the location where the 1845 pede the men so that the Paiutes nuggets had been picked up. Their could gather in their possessions captain was G. W. Bunch. This as well. was probably George M. Bunch, of The Blue Bucket seekers decided Linn county, born in 1816 in Clay there was nothing to do but start County, K e n t u c k y. Bunch had home with their remaining 37 moved to Macon County, Missouri horses. The Indians attacked them where he married in 1843. He within two miles from the scene moved to Oregon in 1852. of the first affair. The valley men A newspaper, the Democratic believed they killed some Indians Herald existed in Eugene, Lane but a Mr. "Phips" was wounded, county,Oregonin1860.Alex according to an account of the Blakely was editor. From J. B. trip by Nelson Cochran, which is Roberts, Blakeley secured names in the Oregon Historical Society of the party. One Henry Martin is collections. named a "pilot." Martin was much interested in the Blue Bucket and Knowing that Superintendent his name appears in other parties Geary was north of them, and which searched for it. wishing to warn him about the at- The experiencesofthe 1860 tack on their party, as well as ob- group under Mr. Bunch were far tain revenge on the Indians, the different from those of 1858. They men drafted an appeal to the Hon. managed to reach a point, appar- John Whiteaker, governor of Ore- ently in the southern end of the gon. They sent two of their num- Blue mountains above Harney val- ber, Archibald Rader and "Alecc" ley, before the Indians struck. They Vaughn to carry this to Mr. Geary were attacked twice, lost the ma- and the commander of the troops jority of their horses, and many of operating out of The Dalles to- them walked home to the Willam- ward the Harney country. The ap- ette valley. peal read as follows: 77 To His Excellency J. P. Haley Joseph Phipps Gov. Whiteaker W. J. Fox W. B. Smith G. Smelser John Brown Dear Sir John Eaton D. Willard Barton We the undersigned citizens of John Fox Elijah Liggett Oregon pray your Hon. John Henry Marlin Samuel Wren Whiteaker Gov. of Oregon that (Martin) Christian Martin you call upon Maj. Gen. Harney to Nelson Cochran's letter to the send troops and chastise a band of late George Himes of the Oregon Snake Indians that inhabit the Historical Society, has a list some- region of country lying between what different from the above. The the head of John Days river and Democratic Herald list also differs. Fort Boise. We being on an ex- Henry Martin is given as "pilot." ploring and prospecting expedition J.B. Roberts as clerk. George peacebly travelling through to the "Smiet" is "Smidt." The following Malheur were attacked and sixty- names are not on the petition list: seven head of horses and mules Samuel Brown, A. J. Fox, J. W. were driven off and one man sev- McCaslin, A. P. Trimble, 0. P. erely wounded. Adams, R. L. Ferguson, J a m e s In two engagements we had with Democrat, F. G. Barger. them 5 Indians were killed and James W. Swank, of the expedi- several wounded, we will raise a tion wrote Gov. Whiteaker June company of rangers to try and re- 25th, 1860 from Brownsville, Linn capture our property if sanctioned County, that :: The last of our ill- by the Government authorities, fated expedition will get home to- which will act in concert with the day." Gov. troops now in this country, According to t h e Cochran ac- hoping that you will see justice count the men had crossed the done us we believe that no white Cascade mountains over a difficult man is or will be safe in travelling and unmarked route from the Des- through this country until this chutes river to the McKenzie river band of Indians are subdued. We settlements in some six days. This also believe that the emigration is a feat unparalleled in those days will be in danger of loosing their of only Indian trails. In 1853 a lives and property unless strongly party of men took this same jour- guarded by Govt. troops. Yours ney from the Deschutes and wan- with respect dered for weeks before coming out (signed) on the McKenzie. G. W. Bunch, Capt. Albert Hays Laban C. Buoy Washington Jewett Regular a r my troops did go James W. Swank, Sgt. A. A. Morgan down into the Harney basin and C. H. Paine John P. Stevens Captain Andrew Smith's reconnais- C. Roth Samuel Warfield sance party bound for the Owy- Horace Lane S. M. Long A. H. Vaughn Simeon Bartmess hee was attacked the 23rd of June R. Millican J. L. Mulkey east of Malheur lake and was James Pollock Walter Haston forced to return to the main body. A. Rader (Huston?) Itisprobable that Smith'sat- John T. Craig John M. Roach A. P. Trimble George Smiett tackers were the same Indians who John Jewett J. W. Carlin had just completed the route of the Sam Bradford Milton C. Harner prospectors from the Willamette John Bradford N. G. Cochran valley led by George Bunch and J. C. Templeton Robt. Hall J. W. Miller N. Gilmore Henry Martin. No property lost by C. Clark Doctor Jennings the Blue Bucket seekers was recov- J. Doan James R. Roberts ered as far as the records show. 78 Ca144Peijijon To the Honorable Court and General Assembly of the Territory of Oregon* We, your Petitioners would respectfully request your honorable body to strike off township 24 S., Range 4 W. of the Willamette Merridian in Umpqua county from the said Umpqua county and attach the same to Lane county for the following reasons, first that by adding the said terri- tory to Lane county it will straighten the line between the aforesaid county and secondly that it is inconvenient for the settlers in said township to school their children, whereby if the said township were added to Lane it would enable the settlers to school their children to a better advantage for which your petitioners in duty bound will ever pray. Dan Locke T. S. Knox J. H. Butler M. E. Anderson J. N. Petty Louis Lejoy Lewis Martin Nelson Swaggard J. F. McBride John Deyles (?) Laban Buoy John Wiles Jacob Clinesmith James Applegate George Small A. H. Mulveny Andrew John Hedrick Wm. Currin C. Snowdon Jeremiah Despain Philander C. Davis Joseph Despain John Applegate John Cole James Moore Terrance McMurry Wm. A. Mulvany Guy Welby (?) E. T. Esles Gordon McCarty Wm. J. J. Scott Wm. Shields Wm. Golden Mr. John Paul Wm. Haskins C. C. McClure Wm. Ward John B. Beckner Samuel Hall John W. Martin Samuel Holt (Written beside names: "There is 4 settlers in this township but one is going to leave it in the spring which will leave one family and 2 bachelors, a part of this township which lies in lain [sic] another advantage to the publick by attaching the rest of the county to lain it willquite a portion of the through road of lain on the road where there is no settlement to improve it or to help keep it up at present.") This was hard to read and not very clear in meaning. It was referred to committee, Jan. 7, 1857. Reported adversely, Jan. 15, 1857. * Submitted to the Historian by Leah C. Menefee. 79 - lAM fiHIVTl llSt'$0' t$)

Elijah Bristow Fountain

LANE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Non-Profit 740 West 13th Ave., Eugene, Oregon Organization U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 96 Eugene,Oregon

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