Polk County, Oregon

“ Polk County has every thing to make it rich and prosperous. All of its prairie and level land, and much of its upland, produces large crops of wheat, barley, and oats. Perhaps four-fifths of the whole county might be turned to grain-raising. It is an excellent fruit-growing region, producing apples, pears, plums, cherries, quinces, and small fruits in perfection. Every garden vegetable produced on this soil is excellent. The grain that docs not do well as a crop, is Indian corn; the fruits that fail as a crop are peaches, grapes, apricots, and the like tender varieties. ”

“ He married Eliza Cox of Salem in 1851. He lived later on a fine farm in the enjoyment of abundance and independence. John Thorp was captain of a company in the immigration of 1844. He was from Madison county, Ky, and settled in Polk county, Oregon, where he followed farming. Truman P. Powers was born in 1807, and brought up in Chittenden county, Vt, coming to Oregon in 1846. He settled on the Columbia near Astoria. William Parker was a native of Derby county, England, born in 1813, but removed when a child to New York. He was a farmer and surveyor. ”

“ Bald Mountain, Polk County. This is one of the higher peaks of the Coast Range, and is in the south part of the county. It bears a descriptive name, and has an elevation of 3246 feet, according to U. S. Army maps. It was formerly listed as Monmouth Peak. It is not now known by that name. There is probably a Bald Mountain in every county in the state, and more than one in some. The ease with which this descriptive name was applied does not speak well for the geographic imagination or ingenuity of early settlers. ”

“ S. A. Stone, managing editor of the Salem Statesman, has been spending his vacation at Pendleton and other eastern Oregon points, and expects to be back at his desk about August 1. During his absence, Don H. Upjohn, Oregonian representative at the Capitol, is “filling in” on the Statesman.
The Polk County Observer, published at Dallas, is cooperating with the farmers in its territory in the effort to obtain the labor necssary to save their crops. The Observer has sent out blanks among the farmers in its district, to be filled in by all farmers needing help. ”

“ Judge Boise is the happy possessor of one of the largest farms of Polk county, embracing over twenty-five hundred acres, the greater part of which he has owned since 1853; being raised on a farm in his boyhood, and having owned and operated one in Oregon for so many years, he takes great interest in the advancement of our agricultural interests. He has twice been elected Master of the State Grange of Oregon, Avhich position he now holds, and in 1880 attended the meeting of the National Grange at Wash- ington, D, C, as a delegate from this State. ”

“ The passage of the admission bill seemed to reinstate Lane partially with Oregon Democrats, though not with Bush and the Clique with whom the break was irrevocable. The general attitude toward Lane is reflected in the actions of the county Democratic conventions held in the spring of 1859. The Polk county Democrats declared that they would not aid in building up a personal party for any man, no matter what his present position and future prospects might be. They demanded a strict adherence to the doctrine of rotation in office. ”

“ But the people of Oregon well knew that their immense agricultural resources would bring them out of all their troubles if they would only apply themselves in the right direction and in the right way.
The counties which led in this industrial revival were Washington, Yamhill, Marion, and Polk. The first county fair held was in Yamhill on the 7th of October, 1854, followed by Marion on the 11th, and Polk on the 12th. The exhibit of horses, cattle, and fruit was fairly good, of sheep, grain, and domestic manufactures almost nothing ”

“ Solomon H. Smith, vice-president, Clatsop County. Thomas Smith, vice-president, Columbia County. C. H. Davidson, vice-president, Tillamook County. Jesse D. Walling, vice-president, Polk County. Samuel E. May, corresponding secretary, Marion County. Lucien Heath, recording secretary, Marion County. John H. Moores, treasurer, Marion County. A. A. Smith, Lane County; John Smith, Linn County, and William Ruble, of Polk County, were chosen a board of managers. Committees on finance, library, visiting and publication were appointed. The Oregon Farmer was declared to be the organ of the society. ”

“ Cary Embree was a pioneer of 1844 and a resident of Polk County. Emery, Jefferson County. The Post Route map of 1900 shows Emery at a point seventeen miles by road northeast of Sisters and a little to the west of Squaw Creek. In July, 1946, Sterling J. May, acting postmaster at Sisters informed the compiler that the office was at the Trahan homestead, and that it was named for Emery Trahan. The office operated from September, 1899, to July, 1901, with Antoine G. Trahan postmaster. ”

“ Herein I send you my report of labor under the appointment of the Home Mission Society as Exploring Agent for the 2d quarter ending September 30th, 1854. I have visited the La Creole Church in Polk County, ten miles west of Salem, Santiam Church, Lynn Co., 35 miles south of Salem, and Yamhill Church, 7 miles west of La- fayette, seat of justice for Yam Hill County and 40 miles southwest from Oregon City. ”

“ Wisconsin, and came to Portland, via the Isthmus of Panama, in 1850. He purchased a tract of 640 acres of land near Dallas, in Polk County, which still belongs to the estate, and on which he lived for four years.
"In 1851 Judge Boise was elected prosecuting attorney of the First and Second Districts by the territorial legislature, his field lying between Eugene, Lane County, and the Territory of Washington. In 1853 he was elected one of the code commissioners for Oregon and selected to compile the first laws of the Territory, with two others, James K. Kelly and D. R. Biglow. ”

“ Yamhill County was in- cluded in the first named, which also embraced Washing- ton, Multnomah, Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, and Polk, as now described. Champoeg district embraced what is 358 W. D. FENTON. now Linn, Marion, Lane, Josephine, Coos, Curry, Benton, Douglas, and Jackson counties; the Clackamas district included what is now Clackamas County, eastern Oregon, a portion of Montana, and all of Idaho, and Washington. At this election 15 to 22 votes were cast in the entire Tualatin district, and 140 to '244 in the entire country for candidates. ”

“ The average size of Multnomah's farms, which is the smallest county in the State, was 80.7 acres. Marion, Clack- amas, and Washington each averaged less than 150 acres to the farm. The counties averaging between 100 and 200 acres to the farm were Benton, Polk, Lane, Linn, Union, Baker, 96 LoN L. Swift Wallowa, and Jackson; those between 150 and 200 acres were Josephine, Coos, Lincoln, Tillamook, Clatsop, Columbia, and Yamhill. A study of the total and improved areas in farms will show the relative amount of land in actual cultivation and in waste or pasture in each county ”

“ These were the days when an empire was in process of build- ing. The Oregon territory originally was divided into four districts or counties — Tuality, Yamhill, Champoeg and Clack- amas. Tuality County was first established July 5, 1843, comprised at that time all of the territory west of the Willam- ette and north of the Yamhill River, extending to the Pacific Ocean on the west and as far north as the north boundary fine of the United States, which President Polk and his party claimed was 54:40. ”

“ MCMAHAN BRANCH, Polk County. This stream rises on the west slopes of the Eola Hills and flows into Mud Slough, a tributary of Rickreall Creek. It was named for Richard McMahan, who was born in Kentucky in 1812, and who settled on a donation land claim nearby in March, 1851.
MCMINNVILLE, Yamhill County. McMinnville was named by William T. Newby, who was born in McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee, in 1820, and came to Oregon in 1843. He settled near the present site of McMinnville early in 1844, and in 1853 built a grist mill and founded the town. In 1854 he started a store. ”

“ No, I ain't going.' Uncle Ben was the only man in Polk county to receive a personal invitation and he was about the only one who didn't take a day off to see the hanging.
"Churches are plenty nowadays and folks don't seem to set much store by them ; but when I was a girl we drove 25 miles to church and were mighty glad to get to go. The church I attended was held in a school house and the preacher was old Doctor R. C. Hill, a Baptist minister. ”

“ Buell post office was established in March, 1900.
BUENA Vista, Polk County. The compiler is informed by E. M. Croisan, of Salem, that Buena Vista was named by his grandfather, Reason B. Hall, whose donation land claim formed the site of the community. Hall was born in Georgia in 1791, and settled on his land claim in 1847. He named Buena Vista about 1850, because some of his relatives participated in the battle of Buena Vista in Mexico. About the time he
named the community, he started Halls Ferry across Willamette River. ”

“ Charles later founded the Polk County Observer in Monmouth (1888) and moved it the next year to Dallas, where, as part of the Itemizer-Observer, it has come down to the present. Young Prince L. Campbell used to come in Thursdays with John Stump to help fold the papers and swap the latest good stories. Miss Maggie Butler of Monmouth was another helper.
President T. F. Campbell wrote much for the Messenger, which is credited with assisting greatly in early Christian education in Oregon. The students of the college also used the paper as a vehicle for their offerings. ”

“ Washington County D. J. Schnebley, James Johnson. Yamhill County E. B. Stone. Editor Walling declares himself to be greatly encouraged by the response thus made, and states that he has arranged for the attendance of a short-hand reporter at the convention. The convention was held as appointed, "The Fruit Growers' Association of Oregon ' ' organized, with Amos Harvey, of Polk County, president, and Chester N. Terry, of Salem, secretary. Altogether the meeting was a very successful one, as there were thirty-one exhibitors present, representing seven Willam- ette Valley counties. ”

“ As long as Quatley was in the country we never lacked for deer meat.
"In 1848 Dave Lewis was elected sheriff of Polk county. In the fall of that same year, 1848, he resigned to go to the California gold mines. My brother, W. S. Gilliam, or Smith Gilliam, as he was usually called, was appointed in his place.
"In February, 1852, William Everman killed Seranas C. Hooker, a Polk county farmer. Hooker accused Everman of stealing his watch. My brother had the unpleasant duty of hanging Everman. His brother Hiram was tried for being an accomplice. He had helped his brother get away. ”

“ In such a state of things, even if it can be said that the arguments for and against the constitutionality of the measure are evenly bal- anced, the doubt ought to be resolved in favor of the increase because it wrongs no one and is demanded by the public good." He calls attention to the fact that when the article on sal- aries was on its passage, Mr. Fred. Waymire, from Polk County, moved to amend by adding the words, "and no more," which amendment was rejected by the convention. ”

“ All that portion of Yamhill and Clatsop counties, em- braced within the following boundaries, to wit: commencing at a range of hills near the Pacific ocean, north of the Nehalem river, known as Saddle mountains, thence east, following the summit of said range of hills to the summit of the Coast range of mountains, thence south following the summit of the said Coast range of mountains, to the southern boundary of Polk county, thence due west to the Pacific ocean, thence along the sea shore to the place of beginning. ”

“ In Polk, where the relative strength of the Democrats and Maine Laws proved about 4 to 1, there were no Whig candidates, but in a few instances the candidates were de- nominated, "Maine Law- Whig", thus indicating coalition. Yam- lOregonian, May 13, 1854. POLITICAL PARTIES IN OREGON 61 hill county had three distinct tickets in the field. 1 Bush stated the situation clearly from the Democratic standpoint. 2 He de- clared that Democracy was opposed by Whigs openly, when any hope was entertained of succeeding under "that corrupt and often rebuked organization" ”

“ The present publisher is L. T. Ward, who bought the paper in 1938.
↑ Territorial papers discussed in a previous chapter. ↑ In 1924 New Year's number of Gazette-Times. ↑ ibid. ↑ Note by George H. Himes in D. D. Fagan's History of Benton County, p. 440. ↑ D. D. Fagan, op. cit. page 440. ↑ Bob Johnson in 75th anniversary edition of Gazette-Times, July, 1937, page 7 of Historical section. ↑ ibid. ↑ Personal interview, 1937. ↑ As Johnson relates it. ↑ Horner, loc. cit. ↑ Fagan, op. cit. ↑ V. P. Fiske, Polk County Pioneer Sketches, p. 53. ”

“ Hence, naturally, Harding was not considered seriously for re-election. The two recognized candidates were Judge Williams and T. H. Pearne. 37 In Polk county, voters were colonized in large numbers from outside districts to vote for the Democratic ticket (see Statesman, June 6) . 38 Official returns in Statesman, July 18. 39 Statesman, Sept. 5. 40 When Nesmith and Baker were elected Senators in 1860, the latter was elected for the short term, ending in 1864. On his death, Stark filled the vacancy by appointment until the Legislature of 1862 elected Harding to serve the remaining two years. ”

“ Klamath Lake Total Portland District Benton County Clackamas Clatsop Columbia Lincoln Linn Marion Multnomah. ... Polk Tillamook Washington.. .. Yamhill Total Roseburg District Benton County. Coos Curry Douglas Jackson Josephine Lane Lincoln Linn Total The Dalles District Crook County.. Gilliam Grant Morrow Sherman Wasco Wheeler Total Grand total.. Total Area Acres. Brief Description of Character of Unappropriated I^ands. 148,232 79.225 165,484 4,600,400 5.305,477 15,800 Principally grazing ”