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 Before the Railroad Looking back on the land that
would become Medford in 1884. Note that no one mentions anything called
Middleford.
 Chaparral in the Medford area, 1913 SMALL GAME.--Quail and jackrabbits are unusually plenty the present winter in this valley. The former are very numerous along Bear and Jackson creeks, and sportsmen frequently bag as many as they can carry in a day's shooting. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, December 28, 1867, page 3 The Jacksonville Reveille wants to know who will take the following offer: "Thos. Chavner, Esq., will bet the Packard ranch, situated on Bear Creek, six or seven miles east of Jacksonville, and which cost him near $3,000, as appears upon the records, against $800, that Seymour and Blair will carry California in the Presidential election next November." There is money in Portland to wager that Grant will be next President of the United States. If you will bet, talk of money, and not of worn-out sheep ranches. Your $3,000 will find takers here.--Oregonian. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 19, 1868, page 2
COUNTERFEITERS ARRESTED AND ONE OF THEM KILLED.
Last week a gang of counterfeiters passed through this place on their
way from below, but only made short stops in Siskiyou, no doubt owing
to the suspicious manner in which they were watched. They proceeded to
Oregon, and the day after they left here our sheriff received word from
below in reference to their being counterfeiters, which information he
telegraphed to the Sheriff of Jackson County, Oregon, who immediately
took steps to capture the bogus coin manufacturers. The Jacksonville Times
of last Saturday tells the rest of the story as follows: On Wednesday
last Sheriff Manning received information that some other members of
the gang of counterfeiters now infesting this section were camped in
Phipps' pasture, about five miles from town. These fellows had wrung in
on an immigrant from California, who was coming to town from Ashland,
and got him to haul down some of their chattels. When they arrived at
the pasture of Matthew Phipps they took out their goods, but gave the
immigrant some bullion to change in town, agreeing to meet him at a
certain place on his return. The man had traveled with them from Cole's
and informed Sheriff Manning of the facts, and that officer made
arrangements with his informant to go back with him, and, in company
with Fred. Grob, secreted himself in the bed of the wagon, ready for
operations. On arriving at the place appointed for the meeting, the
scoundrels were on hand as agreed, but, instead of surrendering when
requested, they took to their heels. Manning and Grob each fired at
them, but to no purpose, and they made good their escape in the brush.
That night watch was kept near the place where their horses were
staked, but they did not come in sight. Next day Sheriff Manning, J. P.
McDaniel, the immigrant and others renewed the search with no success;
however, they found a valise containing some of their spurious coin in
a corner of a fence. In the night three Indians, armed with needle
guns, were concealed near the place where the valise was discovered.
Some time had elapsed, when the fellows were heard coming. They first
threw rocks into the brush to see whether anyone was there, and then
stealthily crawled to the place where they had left their metal. When
in close proximity, the Indians suddenly jumped up and demanded their
surrender, but were greeted with a volley of balls from the pistols of
those fellows, who fired as they ran. The redskins returned the fire
and succeeded in bringing one down, but the other made. good his
escape. Word was sent to town, and Sheriff Manning, accompanied by
several others, repaired to the scene. Upon examination, it was found
that the ball had entered a little above the eye, ranging upward and
tearing the top of the head nearly off. Death must have been almost
instantaneous. Such was the velocity with which he fell that he tore
quite a hole in the ground. Two purses containing trade dollars and
halves of the bogus metal were found on his person. Also three or four
small pictures of himself and a memorandum book, from which it seems
that his name was Henry W. Moore. The body was brought to town and an
inquest will be held tomorrow. Several other articles were also
secured. They evidently made the coin themselves, as some in an
unfinished state was found. A trunk belonging to them is at the express
office, having come down from Ashland. At the time of going to press
Sheriff Manning and a posse were out hunting the other man.[Yreka Journal, April 11th.] Sacramento Daily Record-Union, April 14, 1877, page 8 Where four years ago was a bare spot in Rogue River Valley now stands the town of Medford with 1200 inhabitants. . . . "The Immigration Board," Oregonian, Portland, October 5, 1889, page 7 Within two years prior to the beginning of this contest between natives and miners [in 1848] the writer saw the hunters' paradise of Upper Rogue River. He saw banded antelopes lying on the swells of land opposite where the City of Ashland now is, like flocks of peaceful sheep. He saw the watchful native runner, seemingly naked, start to carry the news of our parties' presence from village to village in advance of us. He saw them closing in on the trail we made into the snows of the Siskiyous, where, according to the estimate of our leader, Jesse Applegate, they would slaughter every one of us for the property one of us carried, if we gave them the chance. When they were surprised by us, three-fourths of them were clad in deerskins, with the hair yet on. That they fought for their native valleys according to their knowledge is no disgrace to them. John Minto, "Treaties with Indians," Oregonian, Portland, December 4, 1900, page 19 Oregon Railroad History.
Last Wednesday was the fifteenth anniversary of the driving of the last
spike on the railroad connecting Portland and San Francisco. On the
17th day of December, 1887, the result for which people of Southern
Oregon and Northern California had been hoping and praying for over
twenty years had been accomplished, and the principal cities of both
states were at last linked together by bands of steel. Many were the
vicissitudes attending the building of this road. In the latter part of
the '60s Ben Holladay--the man who started the first stage line from
St. Joe, Mo., across the plains and who originated the famous "Pony
Express" [Holladay
acquired the Pony Express after its demise, but didn't found it]--commenced
the construction of the Oregon & California R'y. from Portland
south toward the California line. About the same time the California
& Oregon R.R. commenced building northward through California.
The
country was new, its resources undeveloped and after various trials the
roads stopped--the Oregon road at Roseburg and the California end at
Redding. Until 1881 the situation remained in status quo, and the old
Concord coach, drawn by its team of six fine horses, rocked on the
brink of precipices, slowly climbed the steep mountainside or dashed
madly down toward the valleys along the 320 miles of rough and
dangerous road between Roseburg and Redding. In 1881 work was commenced
on the extension of the O.&C. road from Roseburg south and
finally
came to a halt against the rugged sides of the Siskiyou Mountains above
Ashland, when Henry Villard, who had built the Northern Pacific and was
back of the O.&C. extension, lost his fortune in the whirl of
Wall
Street. Again there was a long period of inaction. The O. and C. road
became in railroad parlance nothing but "two streaks of rust and the
right of way." Finally the Southern Pacific Co. acquired title to the
Oregon road under a ninety-nine years' lease, and immediately the
extension of the California end of the road was commenced. The
Siskiyous, against whose rockbound sides the Villard millions had been
hurled in vain, were pierced with tunnels, ravines were bridged,
outstanding points cut in two, and finally on that memorable day in
December, fifteen years ago, the dream of Ben Holladay, when he set his
first stagecoach on its long journey across the plains, was realized,
and from Maine to Florida, from Florida to the Columbia River stretched
continuous bands of shining steel, bearing the commerce and progress of
the world ever westward as the star of empire leads the way. Fifteen
years ago Dan Cawley drove the last coach of the overland stage line
across the Siskiyous and as he rolled up his whip and tossed the reins
to the hostler at the end of that drive a new era commenced and an old
one passed away. The old landmarks--here where Black Bart, the poet
highwayman, held up his last stage; there where a stageload of
theatrical folks went off the grade; yonder where a wheel ran off and
precipitated a load of passengers over a bluff--are hardly decipherable
any more and, in many cases, are forgotten; but here and there
throughout Southern Oregon live white-haired old men, who in years gone
by held with firm hands the reins over those six bounding steeds and
guided the rocking coach around the perilous curves and along the
frowning precipices which lined the route of the overland stage line.
Thus forever ended in Southern Oregon the "Days
of the trail and the tooting,
Medford Mail Tribune, December
19, 1902, page 2And the daring pony express; When the antlered pride of the forest Yielded his skirt for a dress; When blankets were used for leggings, And tied with a buckskin thong; And over the mantel the rifle Hung from an antler's prong." From a chaparral patch, where in early days the aboriginal residents hunted the succulent jackrabbit or the wary quail, has been evolved the city of Medford. "Progress of Half a Century," Medford Mail, August 11, 1905, page 1 Major Cardwell:--"Do I see any changes in the valley since I left? A few, yes, quite a few. For instance twenty-five years ago, when I departed from Jacksonville, nobody had any idea that there would ever be any other town in the valley except Jacksonville. The site upon which Medford is built was known to we youngsters as 'jackrabbit flat' on account of the number of the long-eared animals that lived among the chaparral patches. I come back now and find a flourishing city on that same flat. I see orchards growing on land which in early days we didn't think amounted to much. Even old Jacksonville has changed, not only in age, but in appearance. Those magnificent trees on the streets of the old town were mere switches when I left; new buildings have been erected and old landmarks have been swept away. There are also vacancies in the ranks of the pioneers. Many of them whom I remember have crossed to the other side. Still there are a good many of them left--a little more aged than when I left here perhaps, but still the same in spirit; jovial, hospitable and generous." Except, "Street Echoes," Medford Mail, November 3, 1905, page 1 I didn't realize what I had, though, until I came back here last week and took a look over the valley. Many a place where I traveled through muddy fields and thickets of chaparral answering professional calls in those days are now covered with thrifty orchards. Dr. E. P. Geary, "Street Echoes," Medford Mail, June 29, 1906, page 1 Reminiscences of a Pioneer
Continued from yesterday.
Many changes undreamed of by us in 1876 have come about. Jacksonville
and Ashland were the two principal trading points in the valley, and
our exports and imports were freighted [by] teams to and from Roseburg
and Crescent city, giving to our county a long and discouraging
drawback to immigration and the development of her many diversified
industries. In 1876 trade and exchange of produce for your many wants
was the prevailing custom. Today everything is done on a cash basis. It
has just taken thirty years to change our complete county. Politically
it has changed from Democratic to Republican, for in 1876, a man's
nomination was equivalent to an election. My first taxes were paid to
Sheriff Manning of this county in 1878. James Birdseye was the first
Republican sheriff elected in the county. I can recall but few of the
business men of Jacksonville in 1876, but we gladly recall
few of the
names whose forms are bent and are grey and grizzled with time. Among
them we note J. Nunan, P. Donegan, P. J. Ryan, Mr. DeRoboam, J. R.
Neil, Judge Prim, Judge Colvig, Judge Hanna, Adam Smith. There may be
others that we have overlooked, but not intentionally. Time and space
will not permit us to enumerate the names of the many prominent public
men that have passed over the divide since 1876. It is hard for us to
realize in these days how great a part they played in the settlement
and civilization of our county.
J. G. MARTIN.
Medford
Daily Tribune, October 3, 1906, page 2. The October 2 issue, with the
first installment of this article, is lost.So soon as [J. S. Howard's store] was enclosed and the floor laid Mr. Howard's friends, residing in the nearby settlements, decided to dedicate with an impromptu dance the first building in the embryo town of Medford, then merely surveyor's stakes set on a broad expanse of sandy bottom that gently sloped toward Bear Creek and was covered with a scattering growth of oak and pine interspersed with thickets of chaparral and manzanita. Rogue River Fruit Grower, January 1909 VISITS MEDFORD.
After 26 Years, Mr. Barneburg Returns--Wonderful Changes.
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Barneburg, of San Antonio, Texas, arrived in the
city yesterday. They came by the northern route via Seattle. Mr.
Barneburg is the last of the living Barneburg brothers. One brother,
Frederick, who lived here many years, was drowned in Rogue River a few
years ago. Mr. Barneburg was here visiting 26 years ago--before this
city was thought of. The changes since then are simply wonderful. Now a
prosperous city, then only brush. Wonderful! Wonderful! and only 26
years.
Medford Mail, August 27, 1909, page 1 Medford Sun, December 21, 1910, page 2 While looking about me with the untold changes and development of the old Rogue River Valley, I at once called to memory my first ride through this section in the fall of '76. Things moved pretty slowly and quietly in those pioneer, mossback days, with Jacksonville and Ashland as the only two trading points. Their supplies were furnished from [the terminus of the railroad at] Roseburg, consuming about two weeks' time by freight teams, with amusing scenes of balky horses, breakdowns and cuss words through Cow Creek Canyon. At that time old Rogue River Valley cultivated about one-quarter of its choice land. The balance was pastured, as stock raising was the principal industry. One wagon road then split the valley north and south, marked with stage stations and a cloud of dust from the overland stage coaches. One bridge, and it toll, spanned the Rogue at Rock Point. The courthouse, church and residences of Jacksonville and Ashland were principally wooden structures of the pioneer pattern, and the log residences and schoolhouses dotted the country districts with the old worn rail fences. No party politics in those days. Every man who had any respect for his country or his yellow dog voted the straight Democratic ticket. Wheat was 40 cents a bushel, flour 50 and 75 cents a sack at the Phoenix and Eagle Point flouring mills, then run by water; hogs, cattle and sheep were a drug on the market. Ducks, quail and jackrabbits were as numerous as the stars and about as gentle as the barnyard chick. The circuit rider minister earned his salary of spuds, sorghum, flour and an occasional crazy quilt, donated by some good Christian sister, for preaching the good old-time religion. But those were the good, old, happy, independent days when a man could kill his deer, catch his fish and dam the Rogue with salmon and fatten his hogs all without a license; also pay his 50 or 75 cents for the privilege of being put across Rogue River on Captain Bybee's ferry boat. J. G.
Martin, "Transformation of this Valley of Wonders," Medford Sun, May
12, 1911, page 5
Death of E. C. Howard
Adin Weekly Argus, Adin, California, November 23, 1911, page 2
Edmund Charles Howard died at 2:40 o'clock yesterday morning at the
family residence, 228 Cross Street, after a few days' illness resulting
from blood poisoning which was succeeded by lockjaw.
While engaged in carpentering round his residence some two weeks ago Mr. Howard suffered a slight abrasion of the knee while handling a board. No attention was paid to the wound at first, but it refused to heal and a week later Mr. Howard complained of stiffness in the jaws. Medical aid was summoned and the case was defined as lockjaw. Since last Friday, Mr. Howard has been confined to his bed. He made a strong fight against the inroads of the poison, and at times the hope that he would recover was cherished but in vain. He was conscious almost to the end. Mr. Howard was born in Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa, June 9, 1849. He was the oldest of eight children, four of whom are living. His father J. W. Howard, who was a native of Tennessee, died in Modoc Co., in 1887. His mother, who before her marriage was Jan Justice, a native of Indiana, also died in Modoc several years ago. Until he was 15 years of age E. C. Howard received his education in the common schools of his native Iowa. The family crossed the plains in 1864 by means of horse and mule teams. Four months were occupied in making the journey. They spent one winter in Grand Ronde, Oregon, and in the spring of 1865 engaged in farming in Jackson County on the present site of the city of Medford. During the following spring they moved to Solano County, California, where they remained until deceased attained his majority. He then began farming for himself in Solano County, later removing to the vicinity of Red Bluff, where for eight years he engaged in the raising of cattle and sheep. In 1883 he removed to Modoc County, purchasing 550 acres near Adin, Big Valley, where he engaged extensively in stock raising. In 1900 he sold out and moved to Yolo County, where he purchased 150 acres in Willows Oak Park, near Woodland. 40 acres were devoted to alfalfa, the remainder to a small orchard and vineyard and an extensive dairy, the latter equipped with a separator. About two years ago Mr. Howard retired from active life and moved into Woodland with his family, leaving his son Marvin to look after the Willow Oak property. About two months ago he sold the property. At one time Mr. Howard also owned a two-hundred-acre farm near Madison devoted to stock raising. He disposed of that a number of years ago. Deceased was married in Solano County on December 8, 1872, to Mary E. Scarlett, a native of Indiana, who came across the plains with her parents in 1862. She survives him, together with the following children: Mrs. Florence Hoskins of Woodland, Mrs. Mabel Keene of Woodland, Marvin and Leslie of Woodland, Mrs. Myra Mumma of Oakland and Everett of Woodland. Mr. Howard is also survived by one brother, H. C. of Dunsmuir, who arrived on Monday and has been at the bedside of his brother ever since, and three sisters, Mrs. Lorinda Doss of Mountain House, Idaho, Mrs. Emma Pinckney of Stockton, and Mrs. Mary Parrett of Pasadena. The funeral will be held Friday at 2 p.m. from the family residence. Rev. T. E. Reeve will officiate and interment will be made in the city cemetery. The calm demeanor and cheerful courage with which deceased faced death, which came like a thief in the night, furnishes a better panegyric on a well-spent life than any that can be penned. He died as he lived, and his memory will long be cherished among the residents of this county. Honor and self-reliance were two of his conspicuous characteristics. He lived in this county more than forty years and each year added to the esteem in which he was held. Such men as Edmund Charles Howard can ill be spared.--Woodland Mail, Nov. 17, 1911. John Collins and his family arrived from San Diego, Cal., during the week and have located in Medford for the present. Mr. Collins is a pioneer of Rogue River Valley, as also is his brother, Thomas Collins. Fifty-three years ago they camped on the land where the Natatorium now stands, which was then covered with grass and brush. Jacksonville was the only town of importance in southern Oregon in those days. "Local and Personal," Medford Mail Tribune, July 30, 1913, page 2 On arriving here [in 1866, Jesse Richardson] first rented ground on the present site of Medford and followed agricultural pursuits there for two years, and then purchased 320 acres of land three miles east of Medford and later removed to another place in the same vicinity, where he resided until 1896, when he purchased a farm at the head of Sams Valley, later retiring to Medford, where he resided at the time of his death, being at 145 South Grape Street. "Jesse Richardson Farmed on Site of Present City," Medford Mail Tribune, October 13, 1916, page 6 Richardson's obituary also ran in the Medford Sun the next day, on page 5. PIONEER FARMED SITE OF MEDFORD
"I used to farm this town, but I'd hate the job of plowing it up now,"
naively remarked Harvey Oatman, former pioneer resident of the valley,
at the depot Friday just before the departure of himself and Mrs.
Oatman for their home at Portland, following a two months' visit with
old friends and relatives in the valley.It was their first visit to this vicinity for thirty years, and they marveled at the changes that have taken place in that long period, especially the transition of Medford from a farm or series of farms into a modern and beautiful city. Mr. Oatman came across the plains with his parents from Illinois in 1853 and located near Phoenix. Mrs. Oatman was also the child of pioneer residents. She was Priscilla Dollarhide, and her parents were Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Dollarhide. In 1887 Mr. and Mrs. Oatman removed from Jackson County to Klamath County, where he engaged in the general merchandising business for four years, following which they removed to Portland, where they have lived since. Mr. Oatman hauled most of the lumber with which Fort Klamath was built. Incidental to the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Oatman after their long absence, it is interesting to relate that Mrs. Oatman's brother, Clay Dollarhide, of Tucson, Ariz., has also been visiting in the valley recently, and until his visit sister and brother had not seen each other for thirty-two years. Medford Mail Tribune, September
14, 1917, page 3
"In 1876 I used to hunt jackrabbits through the brush where Medford now stands. At that time there wasn't a house there." Mahlon Purdin, quoted by Fred Lockley, "Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man," Oregon Journal, Portland, June 17, 1920, page 10 Fifty years ago jackrabbits and coyotes held high carnival and sole possession where Medford now stands. At that time there were not more than two houses (farm houses) within what is now the corporate limits of the present metropolis of southern Oregon. C. B. Watson, "Jacksonville, 50 Years Ago," Medford Mail Tribune, September 6, 1920, page 4 In recounting the old days yesterday Mr. [J. R.] Cunnyngham said he formerly went duck hunting on the present site of Medford and heard at times the howl of lonely coyotes in the brush of the present residential districts. "Son of Medford's First Hotel Owner Visits Old Vistas," Medford Mail Tribune, February 27, 1927, page 8 "I lived in Jacksonville 37 years, and as a young lad hunted quail over the lands now occupied by Medford." Robert A. Miller, quoted by Eunice Davis, "Gold Rush Days Related by Col. Robert Miller; Indians Are Remembered," Medford Daily News, July 8, 1927, page 1 Judge Colvig . . . rejoices to see the city today where once he gazed on nothing but weeds and scrub oak trees. "Grand Old Pioneer of Jackson County Enjoys Self on 83rd Birthday," Medford Daily News, September 3, 1927, page 1 Jacksonville was still at the zenith of her glory when the spot where Medford now stands was a waste of oak and chaparral, interlaced with winding stock trails. There are several residents of Medford today who recall riding through the thickets of what are now Main Street and Central Avenue. "Lodge Was Organized Here 1886," Medford Mail Tribune, May 19, 1929, page 4 The stage was due in Jacksonville daily northbound, 9:30 a.m., and southbound at 2:30 p.m. Jacksonville at that time was the center of mining activity, and gold dust was shipped from the town in large quantities. Medford was a prairie, unborn and unnamed. "Fred Tice, Stage Driver," Medford Mail Tribune, May 19, 1929, page B3
"Say, I can remember when there wasn't any Medford," [J. W. Wilson]
said, "and about where this hospital is standing sheep used to be
herded, and on the other side of Bear Creek there were only a few
houses. I raised my family near the present site of Medford, and the
old home is still standing. Those were the days when Jacksonville was
at its height. Lots of business, lots of people over in that city,
mainly because of the mining.
"When I was a young fellow," he continued, "I used to ride horse back over to Linkville, now Klamath Falls, carrying dispatches. That was during the time of the Modoc wars, and to make the trip one had to follow dim trails, poorly kept roads and go a lot of the time through the brush. It was a bit hard during January and February." "Medford Pioneer Content Despite Leg Amputation," Medford Mail Tribune, October 17, 1929, page 3 "I used to talk to the Indians back here in the '50s and '60s down on Bear Creek." He pointed toward the quiet stream that still wends its way through Medford. "William Hamlin, Pioneer of Valley, Recalls Days When Redskins Troubled," Medford Mail Tribune, September 26, 1930, page B3 Turning to thoughts nearer home, Mr. Edsall continued: "I know this country well. I ran a threshing machine through here for 50 years. And I can still do a fair day's work. The first time I went through here, Medford was all manzanita and chaparral. I helped build the Southern Pacific line through here. I did all the plowing from Beall Lane to Talent." John Edsall, in Eva Nealon, "Pioneer of Central Point Drove Oxen Across Plains and 'He's a Good Man Yet'," Medford Mail Tribune, December 5, 1930, page 9 From an Old Pioneer.
To the Editor:I was a resident of your county from 1877 to 1899, and am still proud to call it my home county. I knew your town when it consisted of one saloon and a Chinese construction gang on the S.P. Have seen it advance to the greatest pear-producing district in the world, and I am ashamed to confess that Will Rogers is right. Why not wake up and produce your evidence, especially to men in the public eye. Yours for more proof, J. W. MORRIS.
Monroe, Ore., December 21."Communications," Medford Mail Tribune, December 22, 1931, page 9 "I spent my boyhood in Jacksonville, Or. I used to go to parties with John, Bill, Ed, Alice and Mike Hanley. When I was a boy I hunted ducks where Medford is now located. I had an old muzzle-loader shotgun, and I still have the powder marks on my face where that gun let go when I was loading it." Ray Lee Farmer, quoted by Fred Lockley, "Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man," Oregon Journal, Portland, December 5, 1933, page 8 "When I was a boy, what is now Medford was known as Poverty Flat," said Frank Swingle of 105 Bush Street, Ashland. Mr. Swingle was born 11 miles northeast of Medford on April 22, 1858. Fred Lockley, "Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man," Oregon Journal, Portland, June 2, 1937, page 12 After six months on the road [in 1862] the Hannah family camped on the old Chambers place near Medford. They came to the east side of Bear Creek on what is now the Phipps property and set up a kiln, prepared to carry on their trade of making earthenware and stoneware. They made a little earthenware, but couldn't find the right clay for stoneware. "Old Timer Blames People . . . Not World," Medford News, July 14, 1939, page 1 Last revised Febtuary 4, 2024 |
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