Lane County Historian
JOHN A1W MARY GAY COGSWELL, Married Lane Co., Oct. 28, 1852
- - In This Issue - -FIRST HUNDRED MARRIAGES NLANE COUNTY, OREGON TERR.
JOHN COGS WELL, OREGONPIONEER of 1846
ORGANIZATION OF LANE COUNTYPIONEER ASSOCIATION,
June 4, 1883
LIST OF PIONEERS ATFENDINGyear eame and from 'that state
LANE COUNTY PIONEER-HISTORICAL SOCIETYVOL No. 2 Eugene, Oregon June, 1961
Price 50 cents per copy
LANE COUNTY PIONEER-HISTORICAL SOCIETY
2161 Madison St., Eugene, Oregon
Editorial CommitteeAlfred L. Lomax and Merle S. Moore, chairman
- CONTENTS -
FTRST HUNDRED MARRIAGES IN LANE COUNTY, OREGON TERRITORY
Copied from Book "A"Courthouse records, by Loa'h C. Menefee p. 21
JOHN COGSWELL, Charlotte Mitchel p. 27
ORGANIZATION OF LANE COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION, JUNE 4, 1883,
from the files of the 'OREGON STATE JOURNAL (Eugene) p. 34
The Withers family, father and mother's marriage listed as the 59th in Lane
County. Front rowEmma (Cornelius); J. E. F. Withers, father; Jessie (Edmiston);Mrs. Margaret Sloan Gillespie WIthers, mother; Anna (Emery); Back rowAliie
(liawley; Price Withers; Mabel (Bogart); W. W. Withers, sherlff-4dlled in the
line of duty In early 1900's; Mary (Van Duyn).
Correction for VOL. VI, No. 1, of March, 1961:
In the table of contents,, inside front coverUnder BANKS OF LANE COUNTY
the line "president 1954 to 1960" should be after the 5th story listed, to read. "The
Charge of Lane County Pioneers, Merle S. Moore, president 1954 to 1960."
The cover pictureMarriage photo of John Cogswell and Mary Gay, October
28, 1852 - first marriage recorded in Lane 'County records (although the second
entry of the record was dated April 1, 1852 and therefore makes this really second
in point of time.20
Benj. Milton Richardson & Melinda Paradine Gibson, first couple of recordto be married in Lane County, April 1, 1852. Both lived in the Fern Ridge sectionof the Loig Torn Valley, about 10 miles west of Eugene. lie was the son of Ben'.Uichardson who came to Yarnhill Co., Oregon in 1846 and to the Long Tom Valley,Lane Co. in 1848the same year that the Bristow families joined their father, ElijahBristow, who hiad settled at Pleasant Hill in 1846 to be the first resident of Lane County.Miss Gibson, daughter of th Archibald Gibson, pioneers of 1850.
FIRST HUNDRED LANE COUNTY MARRIAGES
Taken from Book "A", courthouse records,* by Leah C. Menefee
John Cogswell and MaryFrancis Gay, by LutherWhite, October 28, 1852.Benjamin M. Richardson andMelinda Paradine Gibson, byRev. John W. Starr. April 1,1852, at house of Mr. Gibson,
Lane County.John Vallely and ElizabethBrown, by Rev. John W. York,M. E. Minister, Jan. 24, 1853.Alvin Hills and Sarah J. Blair,by Rev. John W. Starr, at myhouse, Feb. 19, 1853.Mr. E. L. Bristow to Miss JaneJones, by Wm. W. Bristow, J.P., March 13, 1853.James Lundy and Oline Davis(age 22 & 16), at home of Mrs.Martha Davis by Rev. Wm.Sperry, March 2, 1853.
Gilmore Callison to Mrs. ElizaLinder, Pleasant Hill, by Wm.W. Bristow J.P., May 15, 1853.Henry Kearney (?) and Evi-line Mays, by Wm. W. Bris-tow, J.P. May 22, 1953.William Miller to Delilah Pea-tree, by Wm. W. Bristow, J.P.,May 29, 1853.Jacob Hastings to BretanniaMalone, by Rev. G. D. Gager,December 26, 1852.Thomas Mainard to Mary Da-vis, by Rev. G. D. Gager, May26, 1853.Mr. J. F. Vandervert to MissGrace Clark, married on the14th day of April, 1853, by meRobert Robe, Presbyterianminister, of the County ofLane, Territory of Oregon.
Rev. Robert Robe, crossed the plains toOregon in 1851, intending to be a mission-ary to the Indians. Performed manyearly marriages, founded Eugene Pres-byterian Church in 1855 and was firstLane County school superintendent.
Mr. Charles Clark to Miss Ad-aline Alexander, by RobertRobe' July 31, 1853.James E. Bowden to MaryElston, by Elder G. R. Caton,August 19, 1853.Richard C. Robbinson to Sa-rah Ann Petree, by Rev. G. R.Caton, Christian Church, Aug-ust 14, 1853.Levi Linder (?) and SusanAnn Callison, by G. R. Caton,August 26, 1853.Samuel H. White of MarionCounty and Ruth. Ogle ofLane, at residence of EsquireOgle, in Lane County, Sep-tember 2, 1853.
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David M. Risdon, Esq. andPauline C. Wright, by M. P.Deady, asst. Just. Supt. Ct. 0.T. October 8, 1853.Samuel Davis and Mary P.Webster, by Rev. R. Robe, atresidence of Esq. Ogle, August31, 1853.Simon McCallister and Eliza-beth Ogle, by R. Robe, Sep-tember 21, 1853.Jesse Soverns and ElizabethLafardamas, by Rev. M. Zum-wald, September 27, 1853.Mr. Callison and Rebecca J.(or F.) Linder, by R. Robe, atresidence of Rev. Mr. Callison,September 22, 1853.Charles S. Rouse and JaneWhitney, by Luther White,October 13, 1853.Harrison A. Stevens and Em-ily E. Pearce at residence ofMr. Pearce' by R. Robe, Octo-ber 30' 1853.James Huddleston and Sa-mantha Davis, by R. Robe, Oc-tober 27, 1853.John S. Barkhull and NancyBagley, by Robert Robe, No-vember 9, 1853.James Davis and Martha Mc-Cullie, by Philip Mulkey, Sep-tember 22, 1853.Robert Alexander and Miner-va Crabtree, br Philip Mul-key, September 22, 1853.Ezekiel Batey & Nancy Ringby Philip Mulkey, November20, 1853.John Ralston and Phill (?)Mitchel' by Gilimore Callison,November 9, 1853.William Luna and Mary JaneNale, by Rev. Louis Castell,November 11, 1853.James M. Spores and Mary C.Thomas, by G. W. York,March 27, 1853.
Rev. Geo. W. Bond, one of the earliestBaptist ministers, pastor 1858-1)368. TheBaptist church was the first fouIed inEugene a'ea, 1852, as "The Willamotte 47.Forks Baptist Church of Jesus Christ."
Mr. Bagley and Mrs. Bagley,remarried, Dec. 26, 1853.William Hayes and Miss Mul-key, by Rev. Robert Robe, Feb.5, 1854.G. W. Adams and Sarah J.Crane, Rev. Robert Robe, Feb-ruary 9, 1854. 50.W. H. Fisher and RebeccaSmith, by Joseph Ogl& De-cember 8, 1853. 51.William F. Lyon and JaneMcClure, by Joseph Ogle, De-cember 15, 1853. 52.John Champ Richardson andRebecca Driskell, by PhilipMulkey, March, 1854.Jefferson Hays and Sarah 53.Capehart, by Philip Mulkey,March 16, 1854.
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Philander C. Davis of Ump-qua and Louisa Jane McAtee,by Rev. Lewis Casteel, Feb.29, 1854.Joshua A. Knowles of Ump-qua County to Elizabeth P.Crow of Lane Co.' by Jonathan Tibbetts, minister M. E.church, April 27, 1854.Stephen Rigdon and ZilphiaEtna Bristow, by John F.Gilfrey, Judge Pro. Ct., April23, 1854.Sylvester M. Wait and MaryHargrove in Lane County, byJohn W. Starr, Oct. 6, 1853.James E. P. Crow and Mar-garet P. Morgan in Lane Co.,by John W. Starr, December25 1853.Joseph B. Starr and ElizabethHileman in Lane Co., by JohnW. Starr, January 11, 1854.Peter Rudio and Scintha Lu-cinda Simpson, by John W.Starr, March 2, 1854.John Hendric and HarrietAmanda Denning, by PhillipMulkey, May 3, 1854.William Nelson Luckey andLucinda Anderson, by Rev.Robert Robe, April 4, 1854.Benjamin Poindexter and Ma-ry Kinney, by Rev. RobertRobe, Apr. 5, 1854.Wyatt Crane and Mrs. NancyFerguson, by Robert Robe,May 16, 1852.James R. Phillips to ElizabethA. Sparks, by Chas. Bradshaw,mm. of Gospel, May 23' 1854.Horace Woodcock and NancyJane Pollock, by A .J. Ham-mitt, Justice of the peace, May28, 1854.Wm. Cribens and Mrs. Cor-delia Matilda Enas, by JohnF. Gilfrey, Judge Pro. Ct.,
Edward Muihollen Jr., andMargaret Elvisa Turpin, byJohn F. Gilfrey, J. Prob. Ct.,September 21, 1854.James Butler C?) and LucindaIsabel Conklin, by PrestonHamilton, actng, J.P., Octo-ber 5, 1854.
vancia E. Warren, by Wm.Gale, J. P., September 4, 1854.Vincent Jones and SarahHoffman, by John Whiteaker,J.P. September 6, 1854.Avery A. Smith, esq. of Eu-gene City and Helen M. Par-sons, by Thom. H. Pearne (7),
minister of Gospel, Oct. 5, 1854.October 5, 1854.Ezariah Park and Elizabeth
June 18, 1854.John Braeheas and PhoebeMcPherson, by Philip Mulkey,July 2, 1854.Wm. Johnson and AlvinaCook, by (?) Lily M. Cook,Mm. of the Gospel, July 23,1854.W. R. G. Trail and AdalineSouthworth, by Jesse Cox, J.P. of Precinct No. 2, August10, 1854.James ElbeErt and ElizabethBraton, home of Paul Braton,by G. W. Bond, Mm. of theGospel., December 15, 1853.A. B. Stevens and Delia No-land, by G. W. Bond, minister
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of the Gospel, August 6, 1854.John Withers, Benton Co., andMargaret J. Gillespie, LaneCounty, at home of JacobGillespie, by G. W. Bond, Aug-ust 9, 1854.Isaac Barclay of Douglas Co.,and Sarah G. Freeman ofLane, by John W. York, Elderof M. E. church, August 11,
1854.Raison Reed and Susan Mc-Cullock, by Philip Mulkey,August 5, 1854.Robert Robe and Eliza A.Walker, by Rev. H. H. Spaul-ding, (assoc. of Marcus Whit-man) July 18, 1854.Joseph M. Lane and RebeccaDavidson, by Rev. RobertRobe, June 28, 1854.Simpson Poindexter and Ma-iia Baker, by Robert Robe,September 21, 1854.George D. Robison and SarahC. Richardson, by Lewis Cas-teel' October 7, 1854.M. P. Davidson and MahalaWood, June 20, 1854.
69. James Rochester and Dele-
Rev. H. H. Spaulding came to the Oregon 65.
Country with Dr. Marcus Whitman In1836.37. Was missionary to the NezPerce Indians, until after the Whitman 66.massacre in 1847, then settled in theWillamette Valley at Brownsvffle.
Howard, by Hulings Miller,J. P., October 12, 1854.James S. Lyon arid ElizabethRussel, by Joel B. Kistner,J.P., September 17, 1854.George Miller and Matilda U.
Lewis Denis and A. M.Broughton, by Elder R. D.Gray, September 25, 1854.Wm. Sherrard and Jane Den-
A. Miller and Bethenia Spla-won, by Joel B. Kistner, J.P.,November 23, 1854.R. W. Brock of Linn Co., andElvira Ann Brown of Lane Co.
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Moore, by Samuel Dillard,Mm. of the Gospel, August24, 1854.John D. Hampton and MaryMoore, by Samuel Dillard,Mm. of the Gospel, October26, 1854.John Russell and MargaretImbler, by Philip Mulkey, Oc-tober 1, 1854.Szerenus Mulkey and JaneGibson, by Philip Mulkey, Oc-tober 1, 1854Isaac Allen and AremanthaMoss' by John G. Gilfrey, J ofProbate Court, October 21,1854.Wm. L. Spry and Martha Mul-hollen, by John F. Gilfrey, J.Probate Court, October 12,1854.Joseph M. Petty and MarthaMatilda Bunyard, by John F.Gilfrey, Probate J., October22, 1854.John McKenzie and AlmiraWinters by Hulings Miller,
J. P., September 25, 1854.8:0. John Lewis and Martha E.
Rains, (Long Tom) by M.Cook, Mm. of the Gospel, Sep-tember 24, 1854.
fling, by Philip Mulkey, Octo-ber 30, 1854.
by John McKinney, ministerof Gospel, Sept. 7, 1854.James C. Patterson to SarahO'Kelly, By A. Zumwalt, No-vember 30, 1854.Joseph B. N. Riley and Elmi-rah Brewer, by M. M. Crow,Mm. of the Gos., October 23,1854.John Wells and Martha AnnBagley, by David W. Minton,Mm. of the Gos., October 12,1854.Garret S. Menic and PrudyMiller, by Preston Hamil-ton, J.P., November 11, 1854.Burton Kelsey and EuphraseaAnn Gillies, by Rev. A. Zum-wait, January 11, 1855.A. J. Allison and Lucy JaneLakin, by Luther White,Mm. of the Gos., May 21, 1855Richard M. Powers and Eliza-beth Winter, by John F. Gil-frey, Probate Julge, Decem-ber 24, 1854.Harvey C.Veach & MargaretJane Knox, by John F. Gil-frey, Prob. Judge, December24, 1854.David G. Clark of Corvallis,Benton Co.. and Elizabeth M.Gray of Lane Co., by JamesWorth, mm. of the Gospel, Oc-tober 31, 1854.Fendel Sutherland and LucyB. Brown, by Jesse Cox, J.P.,October 7, 1854.
David Mosby and IsabellaAnn Small, by John F. Gil-frey, Probate Judge, Feb. 1,1855.John F. Walker and MaryJane Chrisman, by John F.Gilfrey, Prob. Judge, Febru-ary 1, 1855.Sylvester W. Veatch and Ma-ria E. Knox, by Charles Brad-shaw, Mm. of the Gos., Janu-
ary 21, 1855.100. Daniel Stanton and Martha
Boren, by John F. Gilfrey,Prob. Judge, February 18,1855.
101 Rev. Heland of Benton Co. &Martha Davis of Lane Co.,A. N. Harnmitt, J.P., January17, 1855.David S. Love age 26 and
Helen Stewart 19, Fall CreekLane Co., O.T., byG. D. Gager,Mm. of the Gos., February 7,1855.John Chealtan and Nancy G.
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Gilbert, by John Whiteaker, J.P., January 21, 1855.John M. Zumwalt and Cath-
erine Coulson' by John White-aker, Justice of the Peace, (ofSpencer Creek precinct; andlater first governor of State ofOregon) February 20, 1855.
is evident that pioneer ministersaid justhes of the peace periodicallywould call at the Lane County clerk's of-fice to enter the marriages that they hadperformed. This would account for aoverlapping of the dates in the abovelist. (The numbering of the entries wasadded by the compiler to add interest tothe story).
tie, horses and sheep. So, for ayear, he stayed at his father'shome, selecting stock and outfit:ting for his second journey west.
Although this proved to be along, tedious journey, it was whileplodding along the trail that hecaught up with the train ahead,and where he met his future wife
It was typical of John Cogswellthat he always knew just what hewanted and how to get it. So it isnot surprising that he turned tohis drivers and said, "Did you seethat pretty girl standing by thestove? Well, she's the woman formethe girl I'm going to marry!
But the young lady's trainpushed on ahead' entering theWillamette Valley by BarlowPass, leaving John's train far be-hind.
JOHN COGS WELLBy Charlotte Mitchell
John Cogswell, son of Jamesand Mary Stratton Cogswell, wasborn in Whitehall, New York,February 14 1814. When he wasten years old, his family moved toInkster, Michigan. At age six-teen, John left home with onlyseventy-five cents and a jack knifein his pocket, to seek his fortune.
John found work on the ErieCanal. In later years, he oftentold this story of the workmenthere who had to eat pork on Fri-days: "It was then the Catholicpriest would take the bacon andput it in the water, saying 'Godown, mamon, come up salmon',and then he would give it to themto eat".
While working in Missouri in1840-1845, John Cogswell decidedto take the trail to the "far west".Although he started on foot, hemet a man who was taking a herdof horses across, who offered Johna horse to ride for his assistance.Thus, John finished his long jour-ney on horseback, arriving inCalifornia in 1845.
It was in the spring of 1846when John Cogswell first came toOregon. He came by wagon trainvia Mt. Shasta, and reaching Wil-lamette Valley, climbing Skin-ner's Butte. * He stared at the tall,waving grass that covered the val-ley below and declared, "I'vefound what I've been seekinga land that beats Heaven for hay-in' everything that a man needs."
John found work at the mouthof the Columbia River "whippingtimber" (sawing oak) for shipbuilding with "Hen" Owen. Atthat time he owned a "whip saw"over which he had a lawsuit. He
27
often remarked' "I sawed the firstlumber ever sawed on the Colum-bia River, and had the first law-suit in Oregon."
In 1849, when the two menheard of the gold rush in Califor-nia, they embarked on a bargefor the South. It was on theAmerican River where John lo-cated his mine and where hefound much gold.
In 1850, having enough gold forhis needs, John Cogswell gave hismine to a friend, packed his goldin saddle-bags on horses, thencrossed the plains back to Penn-sylvania, where he had the goldminted.
Tall and handsome John Cogs-well now had dreams of a largeranch well-stocked with fine cat-
-nineteen-year-old Mary FrancesGay, whose train had been travel-ing part of the time with the Illin-ois train.
John brought his stock by wayof California, and when he looked
down into the American RiverValley, he saw the people were"as thick as bees". He wonderedhow so many could have crossedthe plains so quickly. He came toOregon through the Siskiyous, bythe Rogue River and Table Rock,then into the Willamette Valley.
He took his donation claim onthe north side of the McKenzieRiver, four miles east of the nowCoburg Bridge, at the mouth ofthe Mohawk River. This includ-ed the Coburg Hills, "Old Baldy"then being known as "Old Richy'sButte", named for a man who wasdemented and who lived in ashack and often rolled rocks downon the road.
John worked for some time onhis claim, sawing and splittingtimber, for there were no millsthen. And he ploughed and culti-vated the virgin soil for his gar-dens and fields. He worked veryhard, while dreaming of the pret-ty girl he'd met on the plains. Fi-nally, when his house was fin-ished, (which, incidentally wassaid to be the first frame housebuilt in Lane county), he mountedhis strongest horse to ride up anddown the valley, questioning sett-lers as to the whereabouts of theGay family, who came in 1851.
John Cogswell found Mary Gaynear the center of the valley, vis-iting the Jess Looney family. Itwas dinner time and John was in-vited to stay. Needless to say,John accepted the invitation andlost no tim in courting Mary,who told him that she was prom-ised to a man back east. How-ever, John's persistancy soonchanged the girl's mind and wonher consent.
John and Mary were marriedOctober 28, 1852, and theirs was
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the first marriage license to be re-corded in Lane County Clerk'soffice.) Their wedding proved tobe a big event for those times,their friends coming as far as fiftymiles by horseback, and in a rain-storm, to enjoy the Gay family'shospitality in their large, comfort-able log house, which stood abouteight miles south of Eugene City.
Mary was a beautiful bride inthe wedding outfit her father hadbrought from Portland, and Johna proud bridegroom. Soon afterthe wedding, the couple rodehorseback to their new home onthe McKenzie river, being ferriedacross the Willamette River byCharles Walker Young, father ofCal Young.
On their donation claim, JohnCogswell raised sheep and cattle.In 1860, he imported New Oxford-shire and Hampshire Downssheep. The family lived on thisfarm for some time, where mostof their eight children were born.
The names of the Cogswell chil-dren are: Mary Anne, b. 1853,Florilla b. 1856' Elizabeth Maude(Lischen) b. 1858, DeEtta b. 1861,Idaho b. 1864, Boliver b. 1866,Clara b. 1868, Ivan Stratton b.1871.
Unfortunately, they lost theirfirst two daughters, Mary Anneand Florilla, who contracted scar-let fever while visiting theirgrandparents, the Martin Gays,and died in 1857. They were bur-ied on a-hill near where they hadplayed, their graves being the be-ginning of the Mary Gay CogswellPioneer Cemetery. (Other gravesof the Gay and Cogswell familiesand their neighbors are in this oldcemetery also.)
Mary Gay Cogswell was heart-broken over the deaths of her
others, were associated togetherin The McKenzie Wagon RoadCompany. Articles of incorpora-tion were filed in Lane CountyCourthouse, Dec. 20, 1862. This
The Cogswell children, likemany other pioneer children, hadto work too, doing chores aboutthe place and sometimes helpingtheir father drive stock to the up-per ranch, brave the dangers ofthe many wolves, panthers andbear.
Their busy mother stayed athome, washing, carding and spin-ning wool for their clothing. Dur-ing the summer season she didthe family washing below the
daughters and grieved so muchthat John decided to take her fora trip back east. They traveleddown the coast by ship, acrossPanama by muleback, across theGulf of Mexico, then up the Miss-issippi River. Although it wasa dangerous trip, they made itthere and back safely.
John and Mary were residentsof Lane County ever since its or-ganization, with the exception ofone year in Portland, in 1870,when his eldest daughters attend-ed school there. At one time heowned a large part of the landwhere east Portland is now situ-ated. He exchanged this how-ever' for land in Lane County, in1871, then went back up the Mc-Kenzie River where he had a saw-mill, just east of Thurston. Healso owned another property 25miles up the river, past Leaburg.Here he had a sheep ranch and thefirst pond stocked with fish, call-ing the place the Fish Ranch. (Helived on his Thurston ranch untilafter his wife died in October 8,1887, then moved to the upperranch.)
In 1881, John Cogswell andCaptain Felix Scott managed todrive the first herd of cattle overwhat is now the McKenzie RiverPass. He, with Felix Scott and
was to be a toll road, but did notsucceed and was later disbanded.
The Cogswell ranch at Thurs-ton was heavily timbered, withmany springs and streams. HereJohn built a ten-roomed four-ga-bled house near a hill at the footof a timbered mountain and near
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the old highway. English ivyframed the double porches infront and climbed to the peak ofthe gable. The house faced theeast and on the north there was along porch with a door leading tothe kitchen. The south porch waskept filled with Mary's poUedplants and hanging baskets. Thisled to the diningroom.
It was a comfortable home forthose times, with its four fire-places, halls and closets. Thelarge woodshed at the back waskept well-filled with oak, fir andbark, sawed and ready for use.And there was the spacious yard,bordered with a weathered fence'the lawn extending far to the roadin front. Many fruit trees, flow-ers and shrubs added theirbeauty to this pioneer home.
The Cogswell children had therun of the place, enjoying nature'sbountiful gifts to the fullest, forin those days there were not onlymany wild birds and animals, butwildflowers and fruits to demandtheir attention. It was while liv-ing on this ranch that the childrenfirst attended school in one oftheir father's tenant houses,taught by Emma Gulthrie. Later,they attended a new one-roomedlog school built by their father onhis land.
frightened to speak, Mary wasslightly relieved when her sister,who was visiting there, came intothe house. Meanwhile, the young-est children came out from theirhiding place behind the bed andfo11bwed tfr Indian outside,he commenced to sharpen his bigknife, much to the women's con-sternation. Just then, hearingsome men who were driving cattledown near the river, they sent oneof the children to them for rescue.Aroused by this turn of events,the Indian only asked for somebread and left in haste. He was
on horseback, wandering aroundfor several days, until they cameto an Indian camp.
Here, an old squaw welcomedthe men, helping them off of theirhorses and leading them to herfire to rest. She fed them someof her stew, which had been madewith meat, wild roots and veget-ables' and seasoned with strongwild onions. On this diet the men
State Pioneer meetings, feelingproud that he was one of the ear-liest pioneers in the northwest.He died May 13, 1907 at the ageof 93 and was laid to rest in theMary Gay Cogswell Pioneer Cem-etery on the Martin Gay donationland claim, eight miles south ofEugene City.
The Mary Gay Cogswell Ceme-tery was established Oct. 4, 1857.Mary Gay Cogswell's deed to thiscemetery, one acre of land, is re-corded in Lane County Court-house, Eugene, Oregon.
A list of Cogswelis and Gayswho are buried there, follows:John Cogswell, pioneer father;Mary Frances Gay Cogswell pio-neer mother; Mary Anne Cogs-well; Florilla Cogswell; Elizabeth
(Lischen Maude C. Miller (Cogs-well); DeEtta Cogswell; IdahoFrazer (Cogswell) Campbell;Catherine (Cogswell) Thorne;Ivan Cogswell.
dam, under huge maple trees,where she heated river water in abig black kettle over a fire. Al-though Mary Cogswell had ninechildren to care for, she was al-ways ready and willing to care fora sick neighbor, for Mary wasknown as a "born nurse".
The Cogswells were seldom mo-lested by Indians, although' oncewhen Mary lay ill in bed, she wasstartled to see a savage Indianstanding at the door, who demand-ed payment for his land. Too
not seen again for some time.John Cogswell had a narrow es-
cape from starvation while trav-eling to eastern Oregon and be-coming lost. His companion wasJohn Diamond and the men were
quickly gained strength, althoughJohn Cogswell "to his dying day"
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declared he could never stand thesight or smell of onions again!
The Cogswell family lived intheir Thurston home for manyyears, raising and educating theirchildren. Although a hard-work-ing family, they found time to en-tertain friends. Their home,which still stands today, is truly areminder of the sturdy pioneerfamily who lived within its nowsilent walls.
John Cogswell lived to see thecountry develop from a wilder-ness into a land of prosperity andplenty, and was one of its mostsubstantial and influential citi-zens. He traveled much by horse-back, wagon train, and by shipand steam trains. He lived to seeman conquer the air!
John seldom missed the Annual
Martin Baker Gay, Pioneer f-
ther; Anna Stewart Gay, pioneermother; Martha Ann Gay Master-son; David Green Gay; SarahJulia Gay; Celeste Campbell.
(Material used for this articlewas compiled by the late Celeste
Campbell and her sister, Eva Fra-zer Johnson.) (*)
(*) John Cogswell claimed to have seen thebeautiful landscape from atop Skinner'sButte a few weeks before it was viewed byEugene Skinner, Elijah Bristow and party,(1846).
Andrew Jackson Babb and Mary Jane Mathews, Pleasant Hill pio-neers, married July 22, 1855, age 29 and 16parents of Mrs. AmosWilkins, 99, Eugene native daughter. lie taught In Lane County'sfirst school at Pleasant Hill before 1855 when ft was on a suhacriptionbasiswith no records kept.
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REV. EDWARD R. GEARY, D. D., Oregon
pioneer of 1850. Temporary chairman at
the organization of the LANE COUNTY
PIONEER ASSOCIATION in 1883. He was
an early Presbyterian circuit "rider" who
traveled mostly on foot as the price of a
horse and saddle was equivalent to a year's
salary from his Board! He established
churches and schools, founded Albany Col-
lege (flow Lewis and Clark of Portland)
and was Presbyterian pastor in Eugene,1876.1886.
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WILLIAM W. BRISTOW, Justice of the
Peace, Pleasant Hill pnecinctas such per-
formed a number of the first marriages in
Lane County. Son of Elijah (first settler
in Lane Co., 1846). W. W. crossed the plains
in 1848 with the families to join the father
who had selected the home sites. Taught
first school in county (1850) and was amember of Oregon constitutional conven.
tion (1858). Also served as State Senator,
was charter member of Eugene Masonic
Lodge and pioneer merchant in Eugiene
Cityat the site of the First National Bank
First officers of Lane County Pioneer AssociLaUonorgafliZed June 4, 1883. Abovi,left Hon. John Whiteaker, President (first state governor of Oregon). Uppir rightThom!. G. Hendricks, Roe. Secy. (founder of First National Bank of Eugene). LowerleftJshua J. Walton Jr., Cor. Secy. CCounty Judge and member of University Boardof Regents). Lower rightRobert B. Cochran, Treasurer (former member of the ter-ritorial and state legislatures for 28 years). At the time of printing this issue of theLane County Historian, no picture was available of Mr. A.S. Patterson, (Eugenepostmaster, starting 1869, and member of State Assembly of 1858).
neers of Lane County, Oregon"There will be a meeting of thePioneers of Lane County held atthe Court House in Lane Countyon Friday, June 4, 1883, at 10o'clock A.M. for the purpose of or-ganizing a Pioneer Society forsaid County. All immigrants toOregon or the Pacific Coast nowresiding in Lane County or Vicin-ity are requested to be present.
John Whiteaker, 1847; RodneyScott, 1845; John Nicklin, 1850;It. B. Cochran, 1851; 0. R. Bean,1851; J. B. Harris, 1853; A. S. Mc-Clure, 1853; Jacob Conser, 1848;William Smith, 1847; J. S. Lucky,1850; J. M. Hendricks, 1849; J. H.Ream, 1853; Presley Comegys,1851; T. G. Hendricks, 1848; F. B.Dunn, 1853; William Blanton,1847; James Warnick, 1853;Aaron Lynch, 1851; J. R .Ellison,1849; C. C. Croner, 1852; Prior F.Blair, 1847.
The Journal on June 8, 1883 re-ported as follows: The meeting forthe purpose of effecting organiza-tion of said pioneers into an asso-
On motion Rodney Scott sug-gested the Rev. Edward R. Gearyas temporary chairman, electedBenj. F. Dorris, temp. secy.
On motion of J, J. Walton five
suitable book for the secretary touse in enrolling the pioneers.
Mr. Manning, of Douglas coun-ty presented to the association an
ORGANIZING MEETING OF THE LANE COUNTY PIONEERS,(now the Lane County Pioneer-Historical Society)from the files
of the Oregon State Journal (Eugene).The call was published May 19,
1883 and was signed by the 21 pio-neers listed below. "To the Plo-
ciation for the county of Lane.Held on June 4th, at Court House,Eugene, at 10 A.M.
men were appointed a committeeon permanent organization name-ly John Bailey, Dr. A. W. Patter-son, Steven Jenkins,, John Whit-eaker.
On Motion of J. R. Ellison allpersons emigrating to the PacificCoast in 1853 or before shall beeligible for membership in thisassociation.
A committee on enrollment wasappointed. Joshua J. Walton, andThomas G. Hendricks.
At the beginning of the after-noon session the committee onpermanent organization reportedas follows.
For president, Hon. John Whit-eaker; for vice president, Hon. A.S. Patterson; for rec. sec. Hon. T.H. Hendricks; for cor. sec. Hon. J.J. Walton; for treas. Hon R. B.Cochran.
On motion, it was decidedthat residents of adjoining coun-ties where there is no organiza-tion of pioneers, shall be eligiblefor membership.
On motion E. R. Geary a com-mittee of five to draft a constitu-tion was appointed: Ed. R. Geary,R. B. Cochran, A. W. Patterson,Marion Martin and John Bailey.
Treasurer ordered to secure a
oak chunk from a tree the emi-gration of 1846 felled and usedfor wood. A gavel for the presi-dent of the Lane County Plo-neeers was ordered made fromthis "chunk."
LIST OF REGISTEREDThe following is the list of those
registered and state from whichemigrated:
34
1843Al HembreeMrs. A. S. PattersonWm. Delaney
1844H. C. Owen
Elizabeth Conser1845
B. PollyRodney ScottJ. D. HamptonJohn Cogswell
Wesley ShannonL. R. GarrisonWm. T. VaughnW. T. OsburnElizabeth Shannon
1846Steven JenkinsJ. C. RichardsonGeorge N. MurchElizabeth RichardsonMrs. M. E. Murch
1847John BaileyL. Hulin (Lester)Wm. BlantonEvaline CronerF. G. VaughanPrior F. BlairDr. N. C. LeeC. M. HuddlestonWm. SmithJohn DiamondJacob C. SporesMrs. Eleanor HuffJames McClarenMrs. Nancy SporesRiley GilbertGeorge Gilbert
1848G. Hendricks
Jacob ConserRobert CallisonMary CallisonMrs. S. A. SkaggsMrs. S. J. WintersJ. M. Shell (ey)?L. D. Gibson
Mo.Mo.Mo.
Mo.md
IowaMo.Mo.
Mich.I".
IowaVa.md.
Mich.
Mo.Mo.Mo.Mo.Mo.
Mo.N.J.
Mo.Mo.Mo.Mo.
IowaMo.md.Ill.Ill.
IowaIowa
Ill.IowaIowa
Ky.Ohio
Ill.Mo.Mo.Mo.Mo.Mo.ni.
Mo.md.Mo.Va.Ill.
md.md.
OhioMaine
Iowa
J. W. Cleaver Ill.Helen E. Johnson Ill.Solomon Cox Mo.Mrs. Sarah Jenkins Mo.
1849Joseph G. Gay md.A. R. Smith Mo.J. H. Smith Mo.J. J. Walton, Senior Conn.Anna M. WaltonC. W. WashburnJ. R. EllisonWm. GearhartG. W. RobertsA. S. CurrieR. SparksJ. R. ReamE. J. McClanahanW. F. SmithJoshua J. Walton (jr.)T. A. MillironJohn McCullochJ. M. HendricksMrs. Nancy SmithJohn WhiteakerA. G. HoveyN. L. PackardMary A. Coleman
1850M. P. Martin Ky.Presley Comegos IowaDr. Jon Nicklin IowaJoseph McLean OhioD. M. Risdon Ill.James Huddleston Va.T. J. Smith Mo.Edward R. Geary OhioMrs. N. M. Geary OhioM. H. Harlow Mo.0. Phelps Ill.J. W. Johnson Mo.J. Z. Gibson Mo.Mrs. L. A. Clark Ill.Jo Lane Ga.J. M. Eddy Mo.Samuel Swift Ill.F. Dudley Mo.Mrs. S. J. Swift Ill.Mrs. S. S. McClure Mo.
A. A. Gibsoit Mo.Sarah M. Underwood Mo.
1851Mrs. G. M. Titus OhioW. H. Potter (W. A.?) OhioMrs. L. A. Potter Mo.Jesse Cox Mo.J. W. Cox Mo.J. J. Williamson Mo.W. A. Masterson Mo.A. A. King Mo.R. S. Bean Mo.Mary F. Cogswell Mo.C. W. Boren Ill.James Huffman Ill.Wm. Churchill IowaMrs. A. F. Pierce Ill.L. A. Clark Ill.Mrs. (N. P. Cox (M. P.?) Mo.Elija J. Masterson Mo.Sarah E. Stafford md.K. Farrington OhioA.J.Babb Ken.A. J. Manning N. J.R. B. Cochran Mo.Elizabeth Keeney Mo.A. J. Zumwalt Mo.Mrs. E. R. Skinner Me.
1852R. G. CallisonS. M. Titus
ZumwaltMrs. Jane ZumwaltJohn SimpsonGeorge SovernsGarnett BogartElizabeth BogartElizabeth BlantonMrs. S. S. Gibson
G. GilfillanG. B. HayorA. W. PattersonD. R. ChristianCharles CallowayJ. P. ChesherMrs. Susan ChesherRobert WareJames Gearhart
Ill.Iowa
Ill.Ill.Ga.Ill.
IowaIowaArk,
Ill.Penn.
Mo.Penn.
Ill.Mo.Mo.Mo.Mo.Mo.
36
S. D. Coats OhioH. L. Thomson Mo.C. C. Croner OhioIsabel! Ware (Hunkee) Mo.Mary A. Hemkee Ohio
(Hembree?)Pauline E. Risdan Conn.E. Stewart (Elias) Mo.Martha A. Hendricks Mo.J. A. Alexander (J. B.?) Ill.George Bailey Jill.Emily Alexander Ill.John Milliron Mo.Mrs. May Milliron Mo.Mrs. W. H. Huffman Mo.Jacob Gillespie Tenn.T. S, Poindexter Ill.Daniel Test Mo.Elizabeth Gillespie Ill.George S. CampbellNelly S. MastersonMrs. M. A. TestT. J. McPhersonM. WallisEvangeline WallisBen F. DorrisS. N. CookWm. GaimeyR. M. CallisonMrs. M. CallisonJohn BrownMrs. M. BrownMrs. S. E. PattersonH. T. HallJ. S. DayMrs. A. L. DayH. H. CookThomas Brown(James) Heath (Jo.?)Mrs. Julia A. BeanMrs. May ParsonsSarah CantrellJas. G. MitchellJane MitchellJ. M. StaffordSarah E. StaffordL. B. RowlandElizabeth RowlandRebecca Fisher
Mo.Mo.Ill.
Mo.N.C.
Tenn.Tenn.IowaKy.Ill.
IowaMo.Mo.Ill.
Mo.Tenn.
Mo.Utah
Mo.Mo.
Ill.Ill.
Iowa.IowaMo.md.
IowaIowaOhio
37
Thomas MathewsEliza MathewsMelvin CookJohn BogartRobert ScottJames McPhersonMrs. E. L. GilbertEli Dodson.Samuel BaughmanWm. F. FoxJ. H. D HendersonMary E. HendersonN. FelderwertWm. M. BogartAbram BogartEugenia HoffmanHenry MoonM. T. Awbrey
1853Mary E. GrayWm. KelseyMrs. A. J. HulinJ. WheelerE. P. ColemanD. H. ColemanMary ColemanA. ElmakerMargaret HayesB. A. JohnsonWm. B. BargerMrs. A. J. BabbC. W. PowellClara PowellMrs. GrayMary J. GrayV. S. McClureS. J. DuntenA. S. PattersonMartha E. DuntenAlice MasseyJulia A. KennedyJohn BlueWm. P. Gardner
IowaKen.
Mich.Ill.Ill.Ill.Ill.
IowaIll.
Mo.Mo.Ill.Ill.Ill.
md.md.
Iowamd.md.
OhioIll.Ill.
Mo.Iowa
Mrs. Nancy K. Riddle md.W. T. Campbell IowaJas. Luper Ill.Rebecca McLean OhioThomas Belshaw md.Maria Belshaw nd.
Ill. Mrs. C. A. Washburn md.Ill. H. A. Hill Mo.
Mo. George Belshaw md.Iowa Mrs. C. Belshaw md.
Mo. J. D. Matlock Mo.Mo. Susan Matlock Mo.Mo. Charles Benett Ill.Fla. May Bennett Ill.Ill. Miss M. Freeman Ill.
Ken. Mrs. E. G. Farrington Ill.Mo. Wm. Edris Penn.Mo. H. R. Kincaid md.Ill. Samuel Hunsaker Ill.
Iowa Wm. McPherson Mo.Iowa Elizabeth Soverns md.
Mo. James Heatherly Mo.Iowa Philip Mulkey Mo.Iowa A. Mathews Penn.
Margaret J. Mathews Ill.J. W. Matlock Mo.Roscoe Knox Ill.Mrs. M. J. Knox Ill.Philip Cantrell Mo.Elizabeth J. Calloway Mo.F. B. Harlow Mo.J. F. Warnuck Mo.M. Kennedy Ill.Mrs. M. M. Edris md.A.Goldsmith TexasJ. A. Winter md.Anna Templeman Ill.
S. McClure md.Wm. Coleman Mo.
Deadman Ill.Mrs. B. Deadman Ill.Susan C. Cleaver Ill.Emily Hovey IowaA. W. Williams OhioMrs. C. F. Ware Ill.Rhoda McCord Mo.Nancy J. Watkins Ill.V. Hemingway Iowa
ANNUAL LANE COUNTY rIONEE1 PICNIC AND REUNION
Will be held Saturday, June 24, 1961, Lane County Fairgrounds, West 13th Avenue,Iugene, Oregon.
Potluck dinner at noon, Pacific Standard Time, in Pioneer Building. Come earlyand visit with old friends. Bring covered dish, salad or dessert and your own table ser-vice. A short program will include awarding of Honorary-Life Memberships to 80-yearold native sons and daughters of Lane County.
Members of the Lane County Pioneer-HistoricalSociety receive the county magazine four times yearly($2.00) - $4.00 extra for the state Oregon HistoricalQuarterly. Send check or $2.00 to Lane County PioneerHistorical Society, 740 W. 13th Ave., Eugene.
YOU LIVE IN A REGION ABOUNDING IN HISTORY .
Settled by pioneers who came by sea or the perilous Oregon Trail.The colorful record of early life in the Oregon Country . . . Pioneerdealings with the Indians, mining, wars, exploration, commerce,politics . . . The transformation from a territory to the State ofthe Union . . . A record of events right up to our own time!
These stories and pictures are collected, preserved and publishedlocally in your Lane County Historian, and for the whole northwestin the Oregon Historical Quarterly.
All programs and field activities are open to the Society members.The society is open to everyone. Give your friends a membership.
Lane County Pioneer-Historical Society Non-Profit2161 Madison St. - Eugene,TOregon Organization
Return Postage &td. U. S. PostagePAID
Permit No. 28Eugene, Oregon
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