Table Of ContentClatsop County Historical Society Quarterly
C u m t u x
Vol. 36, No. 2 — Spring 2016
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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.
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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.
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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-
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Donation Land e dents of the valley
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Claim Act of m moved to town,
1850 to claim ty I leaving Gillette
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what turned out ic and the Jeffers
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to be 161 ½ acres l family who were
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on the east side of cir a few miles to
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the Lewis & Clark t the north, alone.
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River, nearly oppo- Joseph Jeffers was
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site the abandoned ge often away from
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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Col. James Taylor’s home on Clatsop Plains
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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
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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
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