JOTTINGS OF PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF A PIONEER OF 1850: By GEORGE E. COLE

*********************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE:
************************************************ 
Copyright. All rights reserved. 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm 
http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm
*********************************************************************************
Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - July 2002
************************************************************************
CHAPTER V.

In the autumn of 1854, while on a business trip to southern Oregon, I was
overtaken by ex-Judge Pratt, on his way to Jacksonville to get acquainted with
the people, as he intended to become a candidate before the Democratic
convention to he held in the following spring to nominate a delegate to
Congress. As I was for Lane and knew pretty well how he stood in the
estimation of the people in the southern counties, I ventured to suggest to
him that he would encounter much opposition in that section. He, however,
nothing daunted, believed that he could readily overcome it. He was a man of
rare qualities, a good lawyer and a learned. He was very proud and dignified,
a fine judge, talker and a very entertaining man. He was readily the peer of
the foremost men of the territory, and by many regarded the superior of all,
We stopped at the Robinson House, kept at that time by its proprietor, Dr.
Robinson, who was a Whig. He treated his guests with great courtesy and much
consideration, as his name was well known and he had been much in evidence in
the papers of that day.

I left the judge with the host, with the request that he introduce him to
persons who might come into the hotel, which he promised to do, and I went out
to see some people on business, On returning to the hotel later, I found the
judge busily engaged in "making his canvass." He stood before the bar, a thing
he was never known to do before in Oregon. He was arrayed in a faultless suit,
including a silk hat and a high shirt collar. In the par  lance of the times,
he wore a "stove-pipe hat" and a "biled shirt with a stake-and-ridered
collar." His boon companions were miners in their rough garb, ranged along the
bar on both sides of him, The judge was a good talker, and he was giving them
the best he had for the occasion. and they were listening with apparent
interest, As soon as they caught his drift, however, they looked at each other
knowingly, as they were ardent admirers of General Lane, having met him during
the Indian war of the year previous One tall miner reached down to his boot,
drew out a long knife and took the silk hat off the judge s head, saying,
"This stove-pipe is too high by a jiut.  Suiting the action to the word, he
slashed it into two parts, amid slapping the parts together, put it back on
the judge s head, Pratt took this all in good part, and set up the drinks,
which at this juncture was the only thing in order.

Pratt had long, curly hair, black and glossy. The miner s next performance was
to cut off a lock, saying as he did so that it was the "puttiest ha r he had
ever seed," that he must have just one lock for a keepsake, and that he hoped
no offense to him, as he loved him, With that he threw his arms around the
judge and gave him a good hug. With a wonderful exhibition of good nature and
tact, Pratt took it all pleasantly. This somewhat nonplused the miner, and if
he had any further designs upon his victim he evidently abandoned them, as he
remarked, on putting away his knife, that he would not take off the top rail
of his "stake-and-ridered" collar.

They bade each other good-night, and parted, apparently the best of friends.
The next morning I complimented the judge upon his successful entrance upon
his canvass, and he seemed to be very well satisfied with the outcome of it.
He had seen much of the world, but this was the first time he had seen this
corner of it. He went over to Sterling the next day and then returned to the
Willamet valley.

He regarded himself as the leader of the Salem capital party, and it was
generaly conceded that without the aid he rendered in writing and reading his
legal opinion before the legislature, its members might have gone to Oregon
City and joined those there, and thus Salem would not have secured the
capital.

Dryer, in the Oregonian, called those who adhered to Pratt s opinions
"Durhamites," as it was told of Pratt that he bought a lot of scrub cattle of
a man by the name of Durham and sold them at a fancy price for Durham cattle,
claiming that they were of that stock. So all who shared his opinions were
"Durhamites." His friends, however, claimed that the term "Durham cattle" was
given to this band of cattle to distinguish them from other cattle he owned,
and not for the purpose of deceiving. Pratt confidently expected the support
of his former friends, and was very wroth when they deserted him. Many of them
had supported Deady against Lane in 1853, and he could not see why he should
not receive their support, and in addition that of numbers of others, on
account of his well-known ability, which none disputed.

But several things had happened since 1853. The capital had, by act of the
legislature, been removed to Corvallis. The Durhamites, now called the Salem 
Clique, were making a fight to render the removal abortive. The Treasury
Department refused to pay any expenses incurred, or to be incurred, on account
of that removal, and the Salem Clique could not, if it so desired, afford to
break with Lane. Besides, Lane was so strongly entrenched that any effort in
that line would have resulted in failure. Wisely, they concluded to support
Lane, as they preferred a "sure winner" to an uncertainty, although in the
person of a former idol.

The steamer arrived at Portland two days before the convention assembled at
Salem, bringing Lane, and the day preceding the convention he and the
delegates from the northern counties of the territory were on board of the
steamboat Canemah, on their way to Salem. I was at the time captain, George
Jerome was mate, George A. Pease, pilot; Theodore Wygant, purser Sebastian
Miller and William Cassedy, engineers; and Joseph Buchtel, steward. I mention
these names particularly in this connection because these men, I believe, are
at this time all alive and in fair health, except Jerome, who died several
years ago, and Theodore Wygant, who died recently. A remarkable thing, I
think, when we reflect that they were all experienced men in their respective
positions at that time, except myself, who was a novice in steamboating. We
were late in leaving Oregon City that morning, as we had to wait for the
arrival of the boat from Portland, having on board General Lane and many of
our passengers Some miles out from our starting point, while running under a
full head of steam, a woman on the bank hailed us. The pilot asked me if I
wanted to land for her. I replied, "Certainly,  supposing she wanted to take
passage with us, as we usually took all passengers we found along the river,
but under the circumstances would not have made a landing for a man, unless he
was a delegate to the convention. Upon approaching the bank she, holding out a
letter, said she wanted us to take it to her sister in Salem. The mate was
indignant and ordered the plank pulled in. I said, "Mate, take the lady s
letter," in a tone all could hear. Upon hearing this she sang out, "Thank you,
Captain; I know you are a gentleman." I took off my hat, and, bowing to her,
said it Would be one of the greatest pleasures of my life to comply with her
request. The passengers thought it a good joke on the captain, thinking that I
must feel chagrined, at the incident, but Lane came to my assistance. Stepping
forward in true military style and saluting me, he said that he had traveled
up and down the Mississippi river a great many times, and that this was the
most gallant act that he had ever had the honor to witness. So the tables were
turned in my favor. But as a matter of fact, it was annoying, and in case of a
man would have called for a thumping. I did not credit myself with having
performed a very meritorious act, for had I known her object in stopping us I
would not have ordered the landing. But I was "up against it," and did the
only thing to do under the circumstances.

Dr. McLoughlin, who a few years previous was chief factor of the Hudson Bay
Company, now owner of a flouring mill at Oregon City, was the principal
purchaser of the wheat grown along the Willamet river and shipped from points
between Salem and Oregon City, mostly raised on French Prairie. Besides
turning the wheat over to the mill, he required me ole to report to him in
person on the evening of my arrival, which was at least twice a week.

Allen & McKinlay kept the old Hudson Bay store, with which Dr. McLounghlin was
connected. On the evening of my first arrival with wheat, at eight o clock, I
went to the store, and McKinlay accompanied me to the doctor s home across the
street. After politely receiving us, he turned a goblet one third full of
Jamaica rum, into another one-half that quantity, and into another one-half of
that, then filling the glosses with two parts water to one of rum, he handed
the smallest quantity to me, the next to McKinlay, the largest he appropriated
himself. We all slowly sipped it.

During the conversation which followed, he inquired about the different
shippers along the river, who were mostly Frenchmen and half-breeds, and gave
me verbal orders, as none others would have done, to give them about further
shipments.

The second time I reported to him the rum and water was repeated. On the way
to the store, after our call, I asked McKinlay for an explanation of the
doctor s partiality with the drinks. McKinlay, a jolly Scotchman, laughed and
said, "Well, Captain, he dealt that rum out medicinally and not for
sociability. Being a man of ripe years, he took the most himself, me, being
next in age, the second sized dose, and you, being the youngest, the smallest
dose. That s his way, but come over to the store and we will have a social
drink." Which we did, sitting around the stove, that rainy winter night,
spinning yarns until a late hour.

Pratt was defeated in convention. He felt very sore over it, and soon after
left Oregon and permanently located in San Francisco, where he was several
times elected judge, served in that capacity with honor to himself, and wore
his stove-pipe hat in peace.
Ex-Governor Gaines was nominated by the Whigs, but Lane was for the third time
elected, after the most exciting campaign Oregon had yet had.

The legislature had removed the capital to Corvallis and adjourned to meet
there in December, 1855. Now came another fight over the capital question. The
Treasury Department at Washington decided that no money could be paid out on
account of such removal, and that the capitol building at Salem was entitled
to the funds appropriated for its construction, which was as yet incomplete.
Members of the legislature elected in 1855 were considerably at sea as to
their duty, but concluded to meet at the place of adjournment, Corvallis, and
there determine the question as to whether they would remain there or adjourn
to Salem, or (in other words) proceed to relocate the seat of government. A
bill was introduced to provide for the relocation, but the adherents of
Corvallis put up a strong fight to defeat the removal. Nat Lane, a son of
General Lane, was much interested in Corvallis. He had his home there, and was
engaged in the mercantile business, and when accosted for aid in bringing an
nfluence to bear upon the legislature, declared that he could most certainly
control one vote, and that he would guarantee to do so; they could put him
down for that. He said that old man Hudson, from Douglas county, he knew would
vote as he asked him to, if he could see him when he first arrived. He did not
assert that he could do this on his own account, although he and Hudson were
on very friendly terms, but said that he relied upon the strong attachment
existing. between Hut-son and his father, whom, he averred, the old man almost
worshiped, and would do anything to please him. All he would have to do, he
said, would be to talk to him, and show him that all his property interests
were in Corvallis, and the love borne for the father would induce him to vote
to promote the interests of the son. So a lookout was kept on the incoming
member from Douglas, and upon his arrival a meeting occurred at Nat s store,
where several of us came by invitation, to meet his friend. Nat was most happy
on the occasion, and opened the ball by telling the member from Douglas how
much his father thought of him, how much it would please his father if he
should learn of any favor bestowed upon any of the family, and telling him
that his own interests were now at stake in the projected relocation and
adjournment to Salem. The old man replied that he would do anything in the
world for him on account of the old "Generaly," saying that he did not want to
come to the legislature, or hold any office, but the old "Generaly" had told
him he must come, and to please him he ran, and was elected. He said that
before the old "Generaly" went to Washington he got on his horse and rode over
to see him, and ask his advice, how to act and how to vote when he went to the
legislature, saying that he had always had his advice about matters and now,
with this most important matter on hand, he, the "Generaly," was going off to
Washington, and he would be lost, and not know what to do. He said:

"You know, Nat, I believe in the old 'Generaly ; I paid close attention to
what his words war, and he told me that he was sorry that he had to go and
leave me in that way, but it couldn't be 'holped ; that I must do what I
thought was right, and if anything came up on which side I didn't know how to
vote to go and ask Bush, as he was a very safe man. So, Nat, Ill go and hunt
up Bush and come back and let you know."

This was a knock-out blow for Nat, as Bush was the man, of all others, he did
not want this member to meet, as he was considered the most active leader of
the Salem forces. "Salem Clique" had been substituted for "Durhamites" by
Dryer of the Oregonian, as beforestated, when referring to the controlling
element of the Democratic party, which was all-powerful at this time. The
"Salem Clique" won in this second capital fight.

As the Indian war in Eastern Washington was in progress at this time, the
Indians near The Dalles, on the north side of the river, had commenced
hostilities and had run off the settlers, including E. S. Joslyn, who was
caring for a lot of cattle for me at White Salmon. I learned from him at
Portland that they were now across the Simcoe mountains, which were covered
with deep snow, so that it would be comparatively safe for us to go and look
after the stock, and, if possible, move them to the south side of the river,
which was considered safer from Indian attacks. I accordingly joined him at
Portland, and we landed from the steamer Mary at White Salmon on Christmas
eve. The weather turned very cold, a Cayuse or East wind prevailing. The Mary
returned to the Cascades the next day, but the river froze and no more trips
were made for a long time. We gathered up the cattle, and finding that they
could not stand up on the slippery ice, we hauled on sand and made a trail
across the river, but as soon as it was completed there came a strong Chinook
or West wind and destroyed the ice so quickly that we had to abandon the
undertaking, and barely had time to get to the south side of the river
ourselves. I came on down to the Cascades, and made arrangements to have a
scow taken up by the first steamer, when the river should be clear of ice. The
scow was procured, and 26 head of cows I had sold to Jenkins & Benson, and a
few head I had let Joslyn have, were crossed, but mine were left, and were run
off by the Indians the following 6th day of March.

I stopped over night with Colonel Ruckle, and as I could not cross the river
on account of drifting ice, so as to take the trail on the north side, I took
the south side. On the start my trip was hazardous, as I had to climb for some
distance along the bluffs until I reached the house of a Mr. Levins, at which
point a fishery was afterwards established. It took me a whole day to make
this distance. The next morning, I started out to make Sandy river, and to
cross it, as there was no house on the east side of the river, which was
occupied I was told that I would reach Sandy at the delta, and could cross it
where it was divided into two streams, and that no one lived near enough to
come to my assistance, but that I could ford the stream easily. But I took a
trail striking the stream higher up, where it was all together, i. e., about
the delta, but, not what was called the lower town, built on the edge of a
claim of James F. Dickson, at which was a log school house, and a store
belonging to Hartless & St. Clair.

As I was anxious for information, learning that there was a young man by the
name of A. G. Hovey teaching there, I called on him as soon as school hours
were over and made his acquaintance. I found he was from Ohio and had reached
Oregon that year overland. I also learned from Hovey that a man named Jacob
Martin, who lived out about six miles in the foot hills, was in town and was
going out in the morning to his claim, that there was a quantity of vacant
land in that neighborhood, and that there was a school house near him which
was not as yet provided with a teacher. So, staying over night with Dickson, I
returned in the morning to the store, at which Hovey was a clerk as well, and
made the acquaintance of Jacob Martin, who was a large specimen of humanity
from the Monongahela river district, in Pennsylvania.

Uncle Jake, as he was familiarly called, held out great inducements for me to
accompany him to his home, in the forks of the Muddy and Marys rivers. Loaded
with a large quantity of provisions for the family, lie struck out with long
strides, and I, not being able to keep up on the walk, had to make at that I
could not mount even with the assistance of Mr. Buxton and another man. So a
yoke of steers was hitched to a cart, in which was put a lot of straw, and an
all day trip brought me to the east bank of the Willamet river. I paid the man
who brought me, but neither Mr. Buxton nor his wife could be persuaded to take
any pay for the great service they had rendered me. I have frequently thought
of them, and of their kindness to a stranger, and felt that the world was much
better for their having been here, At Mr. Buxton's I first learned of the
burning of the capitol building at Salem, which occurred on the last day of
the year, and I deeply regretted it, as it was said to have been the work of
an incendiary, and, as a resident of Corvallis, I feared censure might turn
toward her citizens. After returning to my home, I for a long time sought to
ascertain if there were any reasons to believe that one of her people would
have been likely to do such a thing but was glad to learn that such suspicion
was attached to none of her citizens, though the incident at this juncture was
unfortunate. It was several days before I recovered sufficiently from the
effects of this trip so that I could walk without a cane, or canes, as I was
compelled to use two of them, and with such aid could walk only on an even
surface. For years I felt the effects of this exposure, but after the lapse of
49 years, all indications of it have disappeared.