Multnomah-Benton-Yamhill County OR Archives News.....THE PAST YEAR January 1, 1879
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Eellitta Stone russetred@msn.com December 7, 2010, 1:32 am

The Oregonian Page 1 Column 5 January 1, 1879
The Oregonian - Portland, Oregon

THE PAST YEAR
What Happened During the Year that Was and Is Not

Details of Local and General Events

January 1878
1st - Harry Morgan assumed office of chief engineer Portland Fire Department 
with W.H.D. Joyce and W.J. Algeo as assistants.
2nd - Portland Industrial Exhibit Assoc. Incorporated by Peter Taylor, Homer 
D. Sanborn, F.C. Smith and Ira F. Powers.
3rd - Death of Sister Alexander of Vancouver Sisters of Charity.
4th - Bark Edward James started on her long voyage to Honolulu. Death of Mrs. 
Elizabeth Dellschneider at McMinnville. Henry Elkeles held to answer for 
burglary.
5th - River above Celilo filled with ice. Closing of the Columbia threatened.
6th - Thomas Gray, an ex-convict, arrested for larceny. Widow Wells burned to 
death at Coos Bay. Capt. Leonard, of ill-fated Nimbus started East.
7th - Arrival of steamship Geo. W. Elder, from San Francisco, she having made 
the quickest voyage on record between that port and this. Removal of Capt. 
Belcher and officers Watson, Howard and Gritzmacher from the Police force. 
Appointments made of W.J. Kelley as captain, and Shea Johnson and Turner as 
policemen. Henry W. Grayson arrested in Benton county for a murder committed 
in Kansas. Charles Jones, a “boss” burglar caught at Hillsboro.
8th - Smallpox reported in Yamhill county. The funeral of the late Mary 
McNamara took place.
10th Annual business meeting of the First Baptist church of Portland. Sudden 
death of Major Henry Hampton. James Murphy fires five shots at Thomas Tilden 
in the P.K. saloon. Tilden seriously but not dangerously wounded. Tiger Engine 
Co. circulated a petition for a steam engine. H. W. Grayson, accused of 
murder, makes his escape from a drunken officer. John Packer, an old resident, 
stricken with paralysis in East Portland. 
11th - Twenty-eight prisoners in the county jail. Grand rally of working men 
at Good Templar Hall.
12th - Light-house and fog signal at Tillamook Head recommended by the 
district engineer. Arrival of Miss Fanny L. Buckingham in the city. Death of 
John Parker in East Portland
13th - First Bethel flag in the State unfurled by the Seamans’ Friend Society 
in Portland. John Van Wormer and his father drowned in the Chehalis river, 
Washington Territory.
14th - Sudden death of Wm. A. Stevens. Report of the falling of an immense 
meteoric stone near East Portland. R.H. Skinner appointed as postal route 
agent. Alarming prevalence of diptheria in Umatilla county.
15th - Work at Umatilla rapids completed. Bill for the protection of salmon 
introduced in the U.S. Senate. John Green arrested in Douglas county for the 
murder of Henry Wheelock in California.
16th - Arrest of burglar while engaged in robbing the safe of G.W. Gray, at 
Salem. Council appropriates $8000 to build a house for Willamettes.
17th - Mrs. Leonard, of Wasco county, held to answer the charge of murdering 
her husband.
18th - Arrest of James Murphy for attempt to kill Thomas Tilden. River at this 
city rises 3 feet in two and a half hours.
20th - Mrs. Doland of East Portland adjudged insane. Indians destroying 
government buildings and other property in Sitka.
21st - Death of Mrs. Henry Stitzel. Mr. Allison of St. Joseph died of smallpox.
22nd - W.F. Cornell and W.S. Moss purchased the Salem Mercury. H. Burrows, of 
Marion county, committed to the insane asylum. Celebration of the 21st 
birthday of Fred Charman at Oregon City.
23rd - Heavy storms along the northwest coast; the Martin Scott driven on the 
sands at Astoria. Publication of the Daily Mercury of Salem, suspended. Opium 
smokers arrested. Smallpox excitement at Hillsboro.
24th - Grayson, the escaped murderer, seen on Sauvie’s island.
25th - Prof. Stebinger presented with a gold baton.
26th - Heaviest rain and wind storm of the season. Death of Mrs. M.E. Hughes 
from drunkenness in a house of ill repute. Sale of the Vancouver Independent 
to J.J. Beeson. 
27th - Mrs. Sarah Binder of Silverton, daughter of pioneer James Brown died of 
consumption, aged 30 years, 5 months, 18 days.
28th - Pink Dominoes first produced at New Market Theatre. Religious revival 
in East Portland.
29th - Celebration of the 141st anniversary of the birth of Tom Payne. Annual 
election of officers of Lucky Queen Mining company. The wind at Portland blows 
with the velocity of 33 miles per hour.
30th - Promotion of 30 pupils from the grammar department to the High School 
in this city. Lot 1 in Block 77 and lot 1 in block 2, Portland bought by Wm. 
Reid for $31,000. Bark Lunalilo, lost on Lagoon Spit near Exqumault. Emma J. 
Cross, daughter of Joseph and Lucy Cross, age 3 years 5 months and 10 days, 
died. In Cowlitz county, Washington Territory, Anna Dorothea Wyant, daughter 
of John and Emeline, aged 7 years 6 months, died. Mr. D.M.C. Gault of 
Washington county married Miss Lydia E. Humphrey.
31st - Election of Officers of the Alaska Mining company. Overland mails from 
Redding fail to get through.


Additional Comments:
In some instances, I added news from the January 1877 issue of The Oregonian, 
to the listing.

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