James M. Anderson Pioneer of 1847

James M. and Lucy Anderson

Pioneers of 1847-1846

as remembered by James Wilbur Anderson

As we become increasingly aware of the diminishing source from which we can compile our knowledge, first hand, of the people, their traditions and every day life in Oregon, long ago, we keenly regret that more of us who had that privilege did not listen more attentively and jot down the interesting stories that were retold, over and over, of the reminiscences of our elders when memory took them back over the old trails.

But Youth is impatient, eager to live the present, and hasten on to the future, and it is only when we grow older that we pause and look backward, and try to remember those now treasured stories in which we paid so little heed at the time.

In gathering together some of these family tales and episodes that have been handed down by our grandmothers and grandfathers, we find some that were tragic, some romantic, but with a generous sprinkling of humor over all.

My Grandfather Anderson was born Sept. 3^rd, 1812 in Lancaster, Ohio, where in 1810 his father Thomas Anderson had purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Fairfield Co., and with his wife Mary Magdaline Mechlin Anderson, settled down to farm where the city of Lancaster now stands.

Nine children were born to them, seven sons and two daughters. Five of these sons turned their steps towards the far western wilderness. Grandfather, who had owned a store with one of his brothers in West Virginia, was the first to make the long trek to the Oregon Territory. In 1847 he left Virginia and started West. On arriving at St. Jo, Missouri, he outfitted himself with ox teams and wagon as he wanted to travel over the Plains route. His brother was to follow by boat around the Horn with a ship load of trade goods, but died enrout off the Calif. coast.

In St. Jo. He also bought a thoroughbred Morgan horse which he rode across the plains letting another man by the name of McKinney drive his ox teams. This horse later played an important part in Grandfather’s affairs, as it turned out.

The wagon train which Grandfather joined was comprised of about one hundred wagons, captained by Major McGoon. In this train were the Dotys, Harrisons, and McKinneys who became his future neighbors. As the train traveled west and tempers became short, dissension arose from time to time – until Major McGoon finally broke the train up into groups of ten wagons each, placing a wagon boss in charge of each group. The last wagon group in at night then led out the following day. Thus harmony was restored.

The trip was made without undo difficulties tho there were the usual mishaps that befell the most fortunate of the immigrants. One incident that could have proven more disasterous than it was occurred at the crossing at Greens River. The cattle by this time were gaunt and tired and it was decided to ford the river at a new crossing, two miles above the regular crossing, where the pasture was better. Matilda McKinney, wife of Wm. McKinney sat on the front wagon seat with a long whip to keep the wheel oxen moving, while Grandfather, on his horse, kept the lead oxen doing likewise, while being guided by William. Suddenly the wagon bed floated off and Matilda leaped to safety on Grandfather’s horse and they made their way to an island near the opposite shore. Then Grandfather hurried back to help McKinney salvage the wagon, oxen, and most of the soaked provisions. One of the yoke of oxen was drowned, however..

When they came in to the Whitman Mission they stopped for a short rest of a few days, and it was not long after arriving in Salem, that the tragic news of the Whitman Massacre reached them, causing them to thank God they had been spared the terrible slaughter.

Grandfather at once began looking around for a place where he could farm and build his home. He took up land northwest of Looney Butte, and built a small house.

He had become a good friend with the man from whom he had bought his horse in St. Jo. as they traveled across the plains together. This man whose name was William Savage had a brother Towner Savage who had settled in Salem the year before with his wife Matilda Purdy Savage, and young niece, Lucy. Lucy was William’s daughter, and what could be more romantic than to introduce his new friend to his daughter. Whether or not he acted as a matchmaker is not known, but the two duly met at Brother Towners and it was not long afterwards, on May 18, 1848 that they were married by the Methodist minister, Rev. James Wilbur.

They came out to live in the house Grandfather had built and became the proud possessors of 640 acres of land that was granted to a man and wife. Grandmother told many times how meager were the items with which they started to keep house, as house hold goods were hard to get. However, they made out, clearing land, and raising a little grain that first year.

In the Fall of 1848, when news of the gold strike in California reached Oregon, Grandfather, along with most of the Valley men, left to seek his fortune. Grandmother barely twenty years old with a scattering of neighbors, the nearest a mile away, seems to me to have been the very personification of bravery. The Indians, tho’ subdued and seemingly peaceable around the valley at that time, would come by and beg for food, especially sugar. Grandmother would dole out a little in their outstretched hands, and they would usually go on their way. But one time, several arrived at the same time and demanded sugar. She complied as usual, but after hastily eating it up, wanted more. Not wanting to part with any more, but afraid of making them angry, she finally told one Indian who seemed the leader, “No more left – just a little spoonful to chief”, and gave it to him. This, fortunately, satisfied them and they went on their way, leaving Grandmother shaking in her shoes! Another time she thwarted a couple of rough claim jumpers by pointing her trusty Kentucky rifle thru the door and ordering them to leave or she would shoot. They too left, for they knew full well she could carry out her threat if need be.

While Grandfather was still in California, Uncle ‘Lige was born. Mrs. Mary Nye, her closest neighbor took care of her, and stayed with her until she could be about.

When Grandfather returned from California they began to farm in earnest. Grandfather bought more land from time to time, and in looking over the old deeds and papers of the early fifties one can see that his knowledge of farming and stockraising was put to good use. Now that they had become established and Grandfather was on the way to becoming a successful farmer, the plans for a new house began to formulate. In 1855, the house, a large modified Georgian Colonial frame house of ten rooms was a reality. By this time a little girl Isabel had been born to them, and in 1857, another son, Charles.

So in the span of ten frontier years, two years before Oregon became a state, Grandfather had acquired a wife, three children, a fine home and many acres of land.

Later, William, born in 1859 – Minnietta in 1862 – Ida in 1865 and Emma in 1869, comprised the Anderson family. An adopted son Claude (McClure, James Claude) was taken into the family in the seventies.

Always adding improvements to increase the comfort for his family, Grandfather had the upstairs finished, adding three more bed rooms, and built a summer kitchen and brick milk cellar adjacent to the woodshed. He had quite a herd of Spanish cattle, also sheep and horses. The first barn was built below the hill to the north of the house, and later a large horse barn was built on the south. The sheep barns were about a quarter of a mile across the field.

He planted a large apple orchard in 1865, and later planted cherry and prune trees back of the barn. Some of the cherry trees were still bearing when we came out in 1924, but have since died. A few prune trees still bear fruit.

Grandfather kept diaries for each year, and it was said that as each of his children married he gave them the diary for that year as a keep sake. Only one of his diaries have been saved as far as we know, and it was not complete. But it is interesting to note the items jotted down – the work being done – when the garden and crops were planted – the number of barrels of apples taken to Salem and sold – the price of wool, 17 ½ ¢ a pound, and all the homey little things of his daily life.

Grandfather was a deeply religious man, with strong convictions of right and wrong. He had joined the Methodist Church in Lancaster as a boy of 16 and all his life was a devoted church member. There were few Sundays that he did not attend church or Sunday School. He was a kindly man – no one was ever turned away from his door if in need, and he was always ready with a helping hand.

He took an active part in the affairs of his community, and wanted his children to take advantages of the education offered at that time beyond the common school level Several attended Willamette University. He and Grandmother deeded an acre of land to School District No. 12, upon which the Sidney school is located, on the provision that it would be used for school purposes.

When the Chehulpum Grange No. 68 as organized in 1873, Grandfather was named Chaplain, as position he held continuously from 1873 to 1887. In an old autograph book presented to him after his fourteen years of service in that capacity, are the autographs of many of the early pioneers. Among the officers are the names of H. Galvin, overseer; - Charles Miller, lecturer; - Lou Miller, Sec. E.W. Hahn, gate keeper – James Anderson, Chaplain; - and D.H. Looney, Steward.

Grandfather and Grandmother also belonged to the Oregon Pioneers association, and attended the early meetings held in Salem and Champoeg.

He was a Republican all his life. His brother, Levi who settled in Portland in 1851 was a delegate, from Washington Co. to the Constitutional Convention in 1857, and voted with the Free Staters as against those wanting Oregon to have slavery.

Grandfather became blind a few years before his death but still retained a keep interest in all that went on about him. But now that all their children were grown and married, he and grandmother turned the farm over to my father and moved to town. Dad farmed several hundred acres besides running lots of stock and horses. He bought a Buffalo Pitt Threshing machine, the first steam traction engine in this part of the valley and did threshing for his neighbors for several years. He finally sold the rig to Jacob Siegmond of Stayton.

Of the five brothers who so intrepidly started from their homes in the “States” to the Oregon Territory, only Grandfather lived to see Oregon well on her way of attaining the half century of her State hood. His youngest brother was accidentally shot en route to the gold fields in 1851. One died enroute around the Horn, one, soon after coming to Oregon in 1853, and Levi in 1889.

Grandfather did not live long after moving to Jefferson, and passed away Dec. 18, 1899.

Grandmother passed away Dec. 26, 1914, at our home in Jefferson, where we had moved after Dad’s death in 1907.

Grandfather had provided each of his children with a prosperous farm before he died, but as the years went by many of these passed out of the family, until at this time, there are only about five hundred acres belonging to his descendents.

The house he built over a hundred years ago is little changed, and stands sturdily on its stone foundation, a symbol of that indomitable pioneer spirit that has endured the century.

transcribed by Ruth M. Anderson

My name is Stephenie Flora. Thanks for stopping by. Return to [ Home Page ] All [ Comments and Inquiries ] are welcome.