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The Infamous Black Bird Southern Oregon History, Revised


Jackson County News: 1870


    POTATO FEAT.--The feat of picking up 100 potatoes, 1 yard apart, one at a time, and putting them in a basket at one end of the line, in 40 minutes--postponed on account of rain--will certainly be performed this afternoon at 3 o'clock. So say the bills.
Democratic News, Jacksonville, January 1, 1870, page 3


    RABBIT HUNTING.--A party of gentlemen went from this place to Antelope Creek, on a hunting excursion, this week, making the jackrabbit a specialty. The following was handed in as the result of the hunt--the work of seven shootists: 325 rabbits; 50 quail; 20 ducks, and 5 gals. Bb'n. wky.; the latter bird or animal being new to us, a reference was had to natural history, but found nothing to correspond with the above abbreviations. The hunt began Tuesday and ended Thursday.
Democratic News, Jacksonville, January 1, 1870, page 3


    PERSONAL.--Dr. [George B.] Tolman, formerly army surgeon, has just arrived from San Francisco, and will make Jacksonville his future home. His office and residence is on Fourth Street, opposite the M.E. church. See his card under "New To-Day."
Democratic News, Jacksonville, January 8, 1870, page 2


MARRIED.
WALKER-ERB--By Rev. M. A. Williams, at his residence, Dec. 30th, 1869, Mr. Minus Walker to Miss Phebe Erb.
DIED.
DONEGAN--In Jacksonville, Jan. 1st, 1870, of scarlet fever, John, eldest son of Patrick and Margaret Donegan; aged 5 years, 7 months and 9 days.
MILLER--In Jacksonville, Jan. 1st, 1870, of scarlet fever, Ella May, daughter of J. N. T. and Betsy Ann Miller; aged 6 years, 2 months and 23 days.
Democratic News, Jacksonville, January 8, 1870, page 2


    PRAISEWORTHY.--We take pleasure in mentioning the first commendable act of the citizens of Jacksonville for the new year. Mr. H. Helms canvassed the town this week with a petition for the relief of Mrs. Ulrich, a widow woman with five children, four of them sick with the scarlet fever. The subscriptions to the petition were considerably in excess of $100, which will supply their necessities for some months.
Democratic News, Jacksonville, January 8, 1870, page 3


    DIDN'T DO IT.--The man who was to have picked up the 100 potatoes, a yard apart, one at a time, and put them in a basket one at a time, in 40 minutes, failed. He was something over fifty minutes in getting them all in.
Democratic News, Jacksonville, January 8, 1870, page 3


    HEALTH.--Scarlet fever continues to spread from family to family. Two more deaths on Saturday last. Aside from this contagion, the health is good.
Democratic News, Jacksonville, January 8, 1870, page 3


    CLOSED.--The Exchange Saloon has suspended operations.
Democratic News, Jacksonville, January 8, 1870, page 3



Owen, Reames and Shipley.
(FOR THE SENTINEL, BY B. F. DOWELL.)
    This question involves more than a few dollars to the Sentinel. It is nothing less than a conflict between border-ruffianism and law and order. In a former article we showed that T. J. Reames, the sheriff, deeply sympathized with the real criminals. If men commence an affray, and they are applauded by those whose duty it is to preserve peace, in vain may we expect to punish criminals, and as long as criminals go unpunished, so long may every good, law-abiding citizen of Oregon expect to see frequent occurrences of the same offenses. So far we have only noticed this question as it made its appearance int he courts. The real facts and causes of those affrays make it still worse for the Owens, and their sympathizer, T. G. Reames, the High Sheriff of this county. We are credibly informed that the first abuse of Shipley, by Owen, was caused by a groundless jealousy. Alfred Owen was once employed by Sachs Bros., but he desired to visit Missouri, and in his absence Mr. Shipley obtained his place, and when he returned he could not get it again. Both them, three years ago, were generally considered nice beaux for the girls. Both of them, occasionally, visited a beautiful girl, who is still single. During the week previous to the fight Mr. Owen saw this young lady at the store of Glenn, Drum & Co., and said something to her about going to a ball. Owen understood he engaged her company to go to the ball; she understood it otherwise. On the night of the fight. Mr. Owen called to take the young lady to the ball, and lo! and behold, she had made no preparation, but she told him she would get ready in a few minutes. Like a visionary and jealous crazy man, Mr. Owen concluded that Mr. Shipley was the cause of his partner's not being ready to go with him to the ball; so, while she was getting ready, Owen posted off to the store of Sachs Bros., and abuses Shipley, as described in Shipley's statement, which has been published. His abuse of Shipley is described as wicked, vindictive and intolerable. After this, Owen takes the lady to the ball room, comes to the bar-room to get his tickets, and at the table where the tickets were sold, he commences his first fight, but they were parted without any serious damage being done. They met again, on the same night, near Glenn, Drum & Co.'s store, and Owen again strikes the first blow. They fight from there down to and around the New State Saloon, and Owen gets severely stabbed with a knife. Shipley remains in Jacksonville; no prosecution is commenced. About a year ago, Shipley married another good girl, who belonged to one of the largest and most respectable families in our city, and ever since Shipley, at least, has not meddled with Owen's gallantry, yet, he is still single. A bright, blue-eyed daughter has been the fruit of Mr. Shipley's marriage. After all this, Owen seeks to ruthlessly tear Shipley from his wife and child, and consign him to the penitentiary. As twines the ivy around the sturdy oak, so clings the daughter and mother to her father and husband. The man, or set of men, that would deliberately, under these circumstances, try to sever Shipley from his wife and child, does not deserve the sympathy of anyone, much less of the High Sheriff of the county. We call upon the Sheriff, we call upon all good citizens, regardless of parties, to discountenance such infamy.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, January 29, 1870, page 2


    HEARTRENDING.--In Jackson County, Oregon, Mr. J. N. T. Miller lost four out of six children, with scarlet fever, within a few days.
Weekly Pacific Tribune, Olympia, Washington, February 12, 1870, page 2



    The Order had also been planted in Oregon by the institution of Oregonian-Pocahontas Tribe, No. 1, which was organized at Jacksonville, Ore., on the 16th of Plant moon, G.S.D. 379 (April 16, 1870). This Tribe was quickly followed by La Lake Tribe, No. 2, at Ashland, and Multnomah Tribe, No. 3, at Portland. When it is considered that the brother who instituted these Tribes was compelled to travel over 1500 miles, mostly by stage, and over a rough country, with heavy expense and very great labor, the indomitable spirit that resulted in their institution may well be commended.
Charles H. Litchman, ed., Official History of the Improved Order of Red Men, 1893, page 345


    POST OFFICE REMOVED.--Mr. J. M. Sutton, Postmaster, has removed his office from Oregon Street to California Street, one door west of P. J. Ryan's store. The new office is centrally located, and the change will suit almost everybody.
Democratic News, Jacksonville, March 12, 1870, page 3


    JACKSON COUNTY.--The official vote of Jackson County foots up a total of 1291. The Democratic majorities on the state ticket are as follows: Slater, 224; Grover, 313; Chadwick, 285; Fleischer, 282; Patterson, 286. Fay's official majority for state senator is 11. The Democratic representatives have an average majority of 91. For sheriff, Klippel (Dem.) has 62 majority; county judge, Shipley (Dem.) has 10. The balance of the Democratic ticket is elected by by handsome majorities with the exception of Davis, for school superintendent, Turner (Rep.) beating him by 92 majority.
State Rights Democrat, Albany, June 17, 1870, page 2


    The Oregon and California road is being pushed on. Track-laying was commenced on the 29th ult., and it was expected that cars would be running to Salem by the 12th inst. The citizens of Albany, Linn County, are taking measures to raise a subsidy, as, according to the report, the surveyed line runs some distance east of their town, and they must pay to have the road pass through the place. The southern counties of Oregon are still excited as to whether they will have the road. We see that the Humboldt and Oregon Branch R.R. Co. was incorporated at Jacksonville on Aug. 29th. Object, "to build a railroad from the North Bend of the Humboldt River, in Nevada, to connect with the Oregon and California R.R., at some point in Jackson County, Oregon."

"Railroads,"
Scientific Press, San Francisco, September 10, 1870, page 192



    JUSTICE'S COURT.--Justice Wade's court has been quite interesting the past week. Thomas Brown, arrested on suspicion of setting Bybee's barn on fire, a week ago last night, was examined on Monday and bound over to next term of Circuit Court.
    Brown declares himself wholly innocent of the charge, and the evidence against him is both circumstantial and slight. He was in default of bail committed to prison to await the action of the grand jury. The next excitement was the trial of Dick Moore for an assault and battery on Zimmerman Zigler. That Dick had pounded him was an evident fact, and it was equally evident that in a moral point of view "old Zig" deserved all he got, but it was a breach of the peace and Dick was fined $10 and costs. On Thursday Henry Bailey was up before Judge Wade on a complaint of an assault with intent to kill Dick Moore on Tuesday night last, and also two Chinamen, Hung Woo and Lee Hung, on a charge of robbing Karewski's store on the night of the fire at Bybee's. As no prosecutor appeared against Lee Hung he was discharged, on motion of his attorneys. Bailey's examination came off Thursday and Friday. He was bound over to next term of Circuit Court, which meets the 2nd Monday in next month. Hung Wo [sic] was also examined and acquitted.
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    SERIOUS AFFRAY.--Last Tuesday night a man by the name of Henry Bailey stabbed Richard H. Moore in the back just below the left shoulder, the knife blade thence glancing in the direction of the right armpit, inflicting an ugly but it is thought not dangerous wound. He also struck Moore on the head with a stone, causing quite a wound. The Marshal came up and rescued Moore, who was already faint from loss of blood, and took him to the Franco American Hotel, where he still lies. Bailey was arrested next morning and bound over for an assault with intent to kill. Bailey's jealousy of his wife is the alleged cause.
----
    HARD ON THE CHINAMAN.--A few days ago Marshal Seaman arrested a Chinaman on suspicion of being concerned in the late robbery of Karewski's store; he took the Chinaman to Mr. K.'s store requesting that gentleman to identify the Chinaman, if possible; instead of doing so Mr. K. immediately assaulted the Chinaman, striking and choking him; being told to desist by the Marshal, Mr. K. refused to do so, whereupon the Marshal arrested him also, taking both, Mr. K. and the Chinaman, before Recorder Hayden. Mr. K. was released on his own recognizance, while the Chinaman was committed to jail.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, October 15, 1870, page 3


    IN TOWN.--Mr. Clugage, superintendent of the Barlow & Co. mail contract, arrived in town from Jacksonville, last Monday, in company with division agent Alex. Martin, and J. D. Carr, former proprietor of the stage line, with the intention of changing to winter time, but the snow storms were ahead of him in forcing the change. The new contractors are now in full possession of the stage line and there are to be one general superintendent, Mr. Clugage, and three division agents, as follows: W. Smith between Tehama and Callahan's, Alex. Martin between Callahan's and Canyonville, Oregon, and James Comstock between Canyonville and Albany, the railroad being almost finished from the north to Albany, and from the south to Tehama--Yreka Journal.

Shasta Courier, Shasta, California, December 17, 1870, page 1




Last revised January 15, 2024