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Clatsop County Historical Society Quarterly C u m t u x Vol. 36, No. 2 — Spring 2016 6 9 7 2. 9 1 1 1 # e g a m S I H C C Landing of our party at old Fort Clatsop, June 9th, 1900 Clatsop, Oregon. left to right: unknown, L. Berkeley Cox (Oregon Historical Society), Judge William Galloway (Oregon Land Department), P. W. Gillette, unknown, P. W. Gillette Jr., Silas B. Smith (Descendant of Chief Coboway), Carlos W. Shane (former owner of site), unknown, and unknown. see story on page 39. In This Issue … Preston Wilson Gillette came to Oregon in 1852 with the plan to take up a donation land claim where he could cultivate fruiting and ornamental trees and shrubs to sell to the hordes of settlers coming west. His diary gives one of the most complete descriptions of life here in the 1850s and 1860s. In the past, we have printed earlier portions of his diary. This issue carries on in the year 1861 to the middle of 1862. It wasn’t only men who took out land claims in the county. Few women tried to take out donation land claims and only one succeeded. But many women took out homestead claims that were offered from the 1860s on. A list of those who proved up on their claims is in this issue. Also included are the reminiscences of Floyd Coons about some of the interesting characters he knew. We have printed other stories by Floyd before. —The Editor Clatsop County Historical Society Clatsop County Historical Society CUMTUX 714 Exchange St. P.O. Box 88 Astoria, Oregon 97103-0088 (503) 325-2203 [email protected] Clatsop County Historical Society www.cumtux.org Quarterly Heritage Museum Vol. 36, No. 2 — Spring 2016 16th and Exchange St., Astoria Copyright © 2016 Clatsop County Historical Society Flavel House Museum (ISSN 1083-9216) 8th and Duane St., Astoria Oregon Film Museum 7th and Duane St., Astoria Contents: Uppertown Firefighters Museum 30th and Marine Drive, Astoria 2 Biography of P. W. Gillette BOARD of DIRECTORS 3 P. W. Gillette’s Diary Andrew Bornstein, Astoria President 32 Elijah C. Jeffers Kent Easom, Astoria Vice-President 34 Women Homesteaders Patricia Roberts, Gearhart by the Editor Secretary Kent Ivanoff, Astoria 39 The Site of Fort Clatsop Treasurer By P. W. Gillette Krista Bingham, Warrenton Margaret Chopping, Astoria Luke Colvin, Astoria 42 Voices From The Past Jeff Daly, Astoria Brett Estes, Astoria by Floyd Clayton Coons Paul Mitchell, Warrenton David Reid, Astoria J. Todd Scott, Seattle Randy Stemper, Astoria STAFF McAndrew Burns Executive Director Sam Rascoe Director of Marketing Liisa Penner Archivist & CUMTUX Editor Amber Glen Curator Front Cover: P. W. Gillette and his son, Martha Dahl P. W. Gillette, Jr. ca. 1897 Business Manager Oregon Historical Society Matt Powers image #93023 Facilities Manager Carol Lambert Sheila Nolan Michael Wentworth CUMTUX: Chinook jargon: Cumtux Support “To know…to inform” The Pacific Monthly, Vol. III, No. 1, July 1902, pages 31 & 32 Biography of P. W. Gillette P reston Wilson Gillette was express upon the three small boxes in born in Lawrence County, Ohio, which the stock was packed amounted in 1825, and spent the early years to $150.00. of his life on his father’s farm. He Mr. Gillette served his county in received his education at the com- important capacities, and in ’62 and ’64 mon schools and also at Clearmont was elected to the Legislature, where Academy. As a young man, he became he was the author of several important interested in the possibilities of the measures. Chief among these were the great Northwest, then known only as a bills framed by him which regulated vast, pathless tract, covered by mighty pilotage at the mouth of the Columbia, forests and intersected by great rivers, resulting in the introduction of steam and, in ’52, in company with many oth- tugs to supercede the old schoo- ers, made the long and difficult journey ners, and establishing equitable pilot to the land of promise. rates. In ’67, Mr. Gillette removed to He settled a few miles from Portland, engaging in the real estate Astoria—then composed of less than business. He speaks with pardonable a score of buildings—taking up a pride of the deals he negotiated for donation claim and clearing the land General Sheridan and other well- for agriculture. known men. Two years after his arrival, he But few men have been so closely received from his father in the East, a allied with the development of the collection of flowers, including 25 va- Northwest. Mr. Gillette’s memory rieties of roses, shrubbery, strawberry, is a rich storehouse of facts and inci- seeds, etc. this was practically the first dents of the early days. His intimate importation of small fruit and flowers, knowledge lends especial interest to and was distributed throughout this the extensive article on the Lewis whole section. From this stock has and Clark Expedition written by him sprung a large proportion of the roses, and appearing serially in The Pacific strawberries, shrubbery, and other Monthly. He has spared no pain to fruits and flowers, which bloom and make this brief history accurate and bear in such wonderful luxuriance authoritative, and it should be read in Oregon and adjacent states. The with interest and profit. 2 Clatsop County Historical Society P. W. Gillette’s Diary Part 2—Entries from July 1, 1861 to February 29, 1862 hen Preston Wilson Gillette make a living on a farm in those days. W made the long trek from his home When Gillette settled there he had in Ohio across the Plains to the neighbors all around him but Lower Columbia River after several Indian attacks region in Oregon in had taken place along 1852, he settled on a the Rogue River and good location for elsewhere in the his farm, taking Oregon Territory, advantage of the 61 most of the resi- 3 # Donation Land e dents of the valley g a Claim Act of m moved to town, 1850 to claim ty I leaving Gillette e what turned out ic and the Jeffers o S to be 161 ½ acres l family who were a on the east side of cir a few miles to o the Lewis & Clark t the north, alone. si H River, nearly oppo- Joseph Jeffers was n o site the abandoned ge often away from r fort of the Corp. of O home on business leav- Discovery. Gillette had ing his wife Sarah, their learned from his father son Elijah and daughters Preston Wilson in Ohio how to grow Carry, Josephine and Gillette and propagate fruit trees Sarah to manage their and shrubs and ornamental plants land claim. Elijah Jeffers was respon- for sale. In addition he was raising sible for taking care of the livestock, cattle, sheep, horses and bees. By the hunting game for food, and rowing summer of 1861, he was literally seeing across Youngs Bay to sell farm produce the fruit of his labor. Gillette recorded and bring back supplies for the family. his successes and his failures, filling Elijah and Gillette helped each other a large journal of 563 pages that now with their farm work and gradually resides in the Archives of the Clatsop cleared a trail between their farms so County Historical Society. The diary they could walk instead of making the describes the hard labor required to trip in their boats. About once a week 3 Cumtux — Vol. 36, No. 2 — Spring 2016 1 0 0 6. 5 0 6. 8 # n o si s e c c A S H C C Portion of P. W. Gillette’s Diary of July 1861. they took Gillette’s small skiff and July 1861 rowed to Astoria, a trip that could take Mon 1. I took another hunt for several hours when they had the wind the old mare [named Fan, lost until and tide against them. This entailed October 2] but was unsuccessful. In rowing to the mouth of the Lewis and the afternoon Elijah [Jeffers] and I Clark River, then crossing Youngs Bay went to town. The news from the States and going around Smith Point, leaving is unimportant. their skiff near the homes of friends Tues 2. [Col. James] Taylor Came where they often stayed overnight. home this morning and spent the This skiff was the only practical way greater part of the day in preparing a to get to Astoria where they could Speech for the fourth of July. read and discuss the latest news about Wed 3. At 2 o’clk p.m. I starte[d] for the clashes between the northern and Clatsop expecting to be on the ground the southern states during the Civil expecting to assist to irect a flag staff War. Gillette’s sympathies were with on the morning of the fourth. But the North. The two men also went when [I] got down as far as Jeffers I to Astoria to enjoy the company of found the wind blowing so hard that women. This was the situation at the it was impossible to go. So I remained time the diary entries start below. there all night. Note: Spelling has been left as it was Thurs 4. At 4 o’clock I was awakened in the original diary, but corrected when by the boom of the independence gun it is confusing. at Astoria. The morning was beautiful 4 Clatsop County Historical Society C C H S I m a g e # 2 2 5 8 .4 2 .5 Sarah and Joseph Jeffers and after a vary early breakfast Mr. Social Chit Chat; Nearly all of those J[effers] Wife [Sarah], Josy, and myself present seemed well pleased with started for the celebration on Clatsop the proceeding of the day. The crowd Plains. We reached the appointed then dispersed. I took a vary pleasant place in due time, where we found horseback ride in company with Miss the American flag proudly waveing Anie Taylor & Miss Clara McKean, over the assembling multitude. The and Mr. Deardoff. I spent the night at Citazens in the nighborhood brought Mr. Thompson’s. in an abundance of provisions which Fri 5 Miss Josaphin & myself came was spread upon a table already pre- home this morning. Mrs. J. remained pared in a beautiful grove upon Col. to make a visit. I found everything all Taylor’s farm. After the reading of the right at home. The house I found in Declaration, by Mr. Deardoff, Rev. fine order. I made arrangements to Thompson & Mr. Callender made have Elijah Jeffers come up & remain Some vary appropriate remarks. I was here yesterday during the part of the then called upon, and am proud to say day the bees would be likely to Swarm; that my little Speech created concider- & he brought his Sister (Miss Carrie) able Sensation. The few Sesessionists and Miss Blossom, with him. When I [Secessionists] that were there looked left home the house was shamefully black as thunder clouds. Mr. Deardoff dirty, & disordered; but the girls [a teacher] then made an excellent cleaned it up vary nicely. It seemed to speech; and then came the feast. After ware a smile of cheerfulness, when I dinner an hour or two was spent in came home. 5 Cumtux — Vol. 36, No. 2 — Spring 2016 5 2. 4 8. 5 2 2 # e g a m S I H C C Col. James and Mrs. Esther Taylor Sat 6 Each day, for some days past vary fast. Three years ago, a good hive we have had a little mist in the morning of bees was worth $1.25 in ready cash. one [and?] evening. Strawberries are Now they can be had at $20 to $25. abundant yet. They are later than I ever Honey, until last summer was worth knew them. The bees acted much as if $1. per lb. It is probably now worth 50 they were going to Swarm, but they did cts. I hoed potatoes all day. not. The price of bees, is growing up t 0 0 5. 9 d n a t 0 0 1. 6 6 4 # s e g a m S I H C C Col. James Taylor’s home on Clatsop Plains 6 Clatsop County Historical Society C C H S I m a g e # 1 3 7 .5 1 3 Mr. Deardoff, at far left, was the teacher at Astoria school. ca. 1860 Sun 7 At home alone, as usual. the day when they are most likely to Elijah J. came up to bring my boat swarm. Elijah came up this evening; home, and Spent a part of the day He is going to assist me a few days with me. I went home with him, and with my work. remained with him a few moments Wed 10 Cool and pleasant. We did and returned to do my milking, etc. a pretty hard days work. I dislike vary A commit [comet] is now visable in much to work constantly all day at the constilation of Ursa Major. I sawe the same kind of work. I do not mind it first on the evening of the 3rd of the working all day, if I can have a variety month. of occupations. Mon 8 I worked until after dinner, Thurs 11 Tired am I, tonight, have- and then went to town. When the ing weilded a hoe all day. I am pretty Steamer arrived everybody was on the well satisfied that it is no use to try to wharf anxious to hear the news, from grow a good crop on this land withat the Seat of war. A little Skirmishing [without] manure. Grain I have never had occured scince our previous dates, tried, but vegitables, potatoes, etc. will but nothing decisive had yet occured. not do. The ground is either to poore, Tues 9 This has been the warmest or lacks som[e] ingredient necessary day of the Season; I came home, to them; trees of all kinds do well, but and spent the greater part of the day fruit trees need cultivation. Elijah went reading newspapers. I am anxiously home this evening. expecting the bees to swarm, and Fri 12 In the evening Elijah & myself always am about during the middle of went to town. The Steamer had come 7 Cumtux — Vol. 36, No. 2 — Spring 2016 t 0 0 5. 9 t) h g ri ( d n a t 0 0 1. 6 4 t) f e l ( # s e g a m S I H C C Reverend of the Presbyterian Church, Louis Thompson and his wife Sara in but brought no news of any impor- all night. I had a pleasant time with tance. A good deal is yet said about my the girls. 4th of July Speech. The Sessessionists Sun 14 I came home at 11 a.m. and are angry enough to hang me. And the stayed until 2 p.m. And started to the Union men are as well pleased as they plains through the wood. I took a sythe are displeased. Spent the night at Col. with me to get it ground, as I have no T’s [Taylor’s] one to help me. I spent the night at Sat 13 Haveing got ready to start John Hobson’s. home, I came down to the wharf, Mon 15 Came home soon after where I met Elijah who informed me breakfast. I came upon two indians that he would not go home, as he had fast asleep in the road. They had been made arrangement to go and work hunting elk & had stoped to rest. The for a man about 20 miles up the river. remainder of the day I worked in the His mother & sisters were much sup- gardin. prised, disappointed and chagrined, Tues 16 The Harells went to town when they learned his intention. I this morning and brought my mail as came home & remained 4 or 5 hours, they came back. A letter from Miss. then went down to Mrs. J’s & stayed G____, and a lot of papers. But no news of much moment. I see by my 8 Clatsop County Historical Society