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  James Sullivan Howard Horace Howard, 12, born in Illinois Henry Howard, 10, born in Illinois Mary Howard, 8, born in Illinois Harriet Howard, 6, born in Illinois Martha Howard, 3, born in Illinois Nancy Howard, 9 months, born in Illinois Eben Tyler, 43, laborer, born in New Hampshire Nathl. Tyler, 21, born in Ohio A CARD.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
May 24, 1862, page
2
MR. EDITOR:--Please
permit me through your columns to set myself aright before the people
of this county, as there has been a great mistake made somewhere in
regard to my political sentiments.
Having been busily engaged away from home for the last few weeks, I did not know how things stood here until I came home last Saturday, when I learned, for the first time, that the so-called "Union Democracy" had taken the liberty of using my name as their candidate for County Surveyor, without my knowledge or consent. Now, as I have always prided myself upon being a straight-out Union man, it was extremely mortifying to me to find myself introduced to the public in any connection where my loyalty to the government or country might reasonably be doubted; for at such a time as this, no man has any business to be found astride the fence; he must stand unmistakably on one side or another; and, in accordance with the above considerations, I take the first opportunity to demand that my name be forthwith scratched off from the so-called "Union Democratic" ticket. This is no time for parties, and every loyal citizen will not hesitate to unite himself with a unanimous Union organization, which ignores all parties and goes in unequivocally for supporting the government in its efforts to put down the present rebellion. The Union part of this state being such an organization, I shall give its candidates for both state and county officers my cordial support. Yours
for the Union,
Jacksonville, May 21st, 1862.JAMES S. HOWARD. Mr. J. S. Howard, a thoroughly efficient surveyor and civil engineer, advertises in this paper that he will attend to any business in his line entrusted to him. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, January 2, 1864, page 2 J. S. HOWARD,
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
January 2, 1864, page
2SURVEYOR & CIVIL ENGINEER. JACKSONVILLE OREGON. Residence near the
south end of
Oregon Street.
January 2, 1864.
Ed. Sentinel:--The friends of J. S. Howard desire that you announce his name for the office of County Surveyor, subject to the decision of the Union county convention. A
UNION MAN.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
April 16, 1864, page
8INCORPORATED.--The discoverers of the silver lead on Jackson Creek incorporated this week under the name of "The Original Fairplay Gold and Silver Mining Company." Incorporators: J. Burnett, T. G. Devens, E. Smith and J. S. Howard. J.
S. HOWARD,
SURVEYOR & CIVIL ENGINEER, JACKSONVILLE, OREGON, Residence near the South end of Oregon street. January 2, 1864 Office at his residence on Oregon street. Oregon
Sentinel, March
10, 1866, page 3
SURVEYING.--Mr. J. S. Howard has been engaged during the week in surveying the remainder of the cemetery lots. About one hundred and fifty additional lots have been laid out, many of them in very desirable locations. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
November 30, 1867, page
3
COUNTY SURVEYOR.--Mr. J. S. Howard was appointed county surveyor of Jackson County at the December term of the County Court. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
December 21, 1867, page
2
NOT A CANDIDATE.--Mr. J. S. Howard respectfully informs his friends that the card in last week's issue announcing him as a candidate for County Surveyor, was inserted without his knowledge, and that he is not a candidate for that office. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 23, 1868, page 3 GONE.
HOWARD.--Died,
in Jacksonville, on the 8th inst., of rheumatism of the heart, Horace
Arthur, son of J. S. and M. B. Howard; aged 6 years, 4 months and 24
days.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
July 11, 1868, page
3
SURVEYING.--The County Surveyor, Mr. J. S. Howard, will commence the survey of a road to Lost River on Monday, by order of the County Commissioners. The road will commence at the Hill place south of Ashland and run by way of Soda Springs to Lost River Gap, a distance of probably seventy-five miles. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
August 1, 1868, page
2
SURVEYING PARTY RETURNED.--Mr. Howard and party, who left some ten days ago to survey the county road from the Yreka road across the Cascade Mountains to Lost River, have returned, having completed the work. From Hill's place, on the Yreka road, to Link River, the distance is fifty-five miles, and ten miles further to Lost River. From Jacksonville to Link River the distance is 78 miles. A good grade is obtained from this side to the summit of the Cascades, as good as that over the Siskiyou. On the other side the grade is as good as could be asked for. Mr. Howard says the road is as fine as any mountain way he ever saw. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 22, 1868, page 3 COUNTY ROAD.--The Commissioners have accepted the report of the viewers and surveyor of the new road via Emigrant Creek to Link River. The cost of the location and surveying is about $500. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 12, 1868, page 3 NO COUNTY SURVEYOR.--We hear that it is the intention of Mr. Howard to resign the county surveyorship for the reason that the County Judge evidently thinks him more ornamental than useful. Mr. Howard has given $10,000 bonds for the correct discharge of his duty, but when any work is to be done it is let to irresponsible parties at a lower price than that allowed by law. Mr. H. is evidently tired of empty honor and desires his bondsmen released. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 22, 1869, page 2 County Surveying.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
May 29, 1869, page
2
The following letter from Judge Duncan explains the matter of the
county surveying. In our reference last week, we had no intention of
detracting from the merits of Messrs. Lindley or Meyer, but considered
they were under no pecuniary responsibility, not having given any
bonds. We hope the explanation will be satisfactory to all parties:
JACKSONVILLE,
MAY 27, 1869.
MR. EDITOR.--A
paragraph in your last week's paper, under the head of "No County
Surveyor," demands a short notice from me--loath as I am to notice such
things--to which I hope in justice you will give place.In the latter part of the paragraph you say "when any work is to be done it is let to irresponsible parties at a lower price than that allowed by law." Now, Mr. Editor, you should not have suffered yourself to be misled in making such a statement, without inquiring a little more into the facts. On page 892 of the Code you will see that the County Surveyor is allowed four dollars per day for "every day necessarily employed in surveying roads and making out the plats." He is also allowed ten cents per mile traveling to and returning from place of survey. If Mr. Howard will work for these legal fees, the County Court, I believe, would not think of employing anyone else; but when, as he has done in every case heretofore, he charges the county seven dollars per day, and all expenses paid besides, equal to from eight to nine dollars per day, he should not complain if the County Court, passing over the remedy provided in sec. 14, same page of Code, simply employs other and competent surveyors to survey the roads at a considerable less price than he says he can afford to do it for. I leave it to those who are acquainted with Mr. Lindley and Mr. Meyer to say whether they are responsible or "irresponsible" when acting under the oath the law requires them to take. As to your saying the "County Judge" instead of County Court, I suppose it is owing to a misapprehension of the fact that when transacting county business, the Court consists of three persons instead of one. L. J. C. DUNCAN.
ROAD SURVEYED.--County Surveyor Howard has just completed the survey of the road from this place to the line of Josephine County. He makes the distance to Herling's 3 miles; to Logtown 5 miles; to Ray's 8¼ miles; to Benedict's 14 miles, and the whole distance from here to the line 19 miles and 36 rods. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 28, 1869, page 3 NEW ROAD.--The County Commissioners have accepted the report of Surveyor Howard, and will direct that the road be graded over the Applegate Hill on the new survey. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 11, 1869, page 2 SURVEYING.--Surveyor Howard started on Monday with a corps of assistants to survey the county road between here and Big Butte. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
September 25, 1869, page
3
Jackson County, Oregon: James S. Sullivan, 38, surveyor, born in New Hampshire Martha B. Sullivan, 29, born in England Charles J. Howard, 14, born in Illinois George S. S. Howard, 12, born in Illinois Nettie Howard, 10, born in Illinois Martha C. Howard, 3, born in Oreogn U.S. Census, enumerated July 28, 1870 THE SURVEYING PARTY LOST.--Last week, after we had gone to press, we learned that the surveying party, consisting of Messrs. Turner, Howard and others, had been lost in the mountains at the head of Rogue River and were made to wander around through the rugged canyons and fastnesses of that section for two days and a half (one reported it four days) without anything to eat worth speaking of. Towards the last they are said to have meditated making a meal out of a luckless canine they had along. How true it is we are not prepared to say. Anyhow it is a remarkable adventure for men carrying a compass to go through. The trouble seems to have been they did not have confidence in their instrument. Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 8, 1870 A Coward, Liar and a Villain.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
March 9, 1872, page 2
The nondescript which slinks around the editorial sanctum of the
Democratic slander mill has again sent forth his feeble, dying moan,
imploring the public to turn their attention from his crime-stained
character, and see if they could not find something wrong in my
official acts to engage their attention for a while, and thus give him
a little rest. He has so far tacitly admitted the charges I made
against him two weeks ago to be true. In last week's Times this bisulcous
vituperator pours forth an amount of billingsgate sufficient to warrant
the belief that he thinks he controls the whole stock on the market,
and the persistency with which he bawls forth his wares would seem to
qualify him for a first-rate vendor of charcoal, in which occupation
the blackness of his complexion would beautifully harmonize with the
blackness of his character and his dark deeds.
He publishes from the county records a bill presented and certified to by me, for the expenses of a road survey from Bybee's ferry to Ft. Klamath, thence to Link River, and costing the county about five hundred dollars altogether, and if paid for at the rates allowed by the government for their land surveys would have cost the county twelve hundred dollars, but the principal item to which he takes exceptions, and to which he has devoted a column and a half to prove the enormity of the swindle, was the fact that I brought in a bill for 62½ cents a day per man for provisions furnished for the board of the men employed upon said survey, which the philanthropic commissioners cut down to 37½ cents per day, and which this dishonorable candle-holder Fay virtually says is too much food for a laboring man who works from ten to fifteen hours in a July sun. Yes, men of Jackson County, who earn your bread by the sweat of your brow, this man J. D. Fay, whom you elected to make your laws, would cut your rations down to nearly one-third prison fare. Yes, the culprits in our jail are allowed six dollars worth of board per week, yet this soft, white-handed, soft-headed Hon. (?) Senator considers three bits worth of board per day as too good and too much for a man that earns his bread by the sweat of his brow. We do not understand why this great reformer does not go after the County Commissioners for their extravagance in allowing the Sheriff six dollars per week for boarding the criminals in our jail, unless there is a sympathetic feeling between himself and all other villains, and perhaps, with an eye to the future, he does not want to see prison fare reduced. This living proof of Darwin's theory, that man sprang from a baboon, this thing in the image of man and with the instincts of a brute, imagines he can make and remake men; he also thinks he owns the original Democratic Party in this county, and in this opinion he is joined by a small ring of his strikers in and near town, who think that by his trickery and chicanery they can foist themselves upon the party and secure the county offices. They expect to go to Fay when they die, and they nightly pray in this style: Now
I lay me down to sleep,
All good Democrats who did not subscribe to this change in the litany
two years ago must repent and confess their past sins to this great
high priest Fay, do penance and take back seats, and not be admitted to
full communion for the next two years. All who do not subscribe to
this programme are to be consigned to Fay's Democratic
purgatory, there
to remain until the candle-snuffers of this high priest Fay are paid
enough to pray them out. All who do not champion this man Fay are alike
subject to his maledictions, and he tries to turn every man out of his
means of making a livelihood who does not worship this brazen serpent.Please J. D. Fay my soul to keep, If I should die before I wake, Please J. D. fay my soul to take. Because Mr. Turner telegraphed some very unpleasant truths in his news dispatches about this man, he tried by every foul and false means to turn him out of his office, but failed most signally; then, as Mr. Turner and myself were associated together in a surveying contract, and because he knew that I dislike him as sincerely as Turner did, he started in on me with his vile falsehoods, but he has started in on the wrong man, as I don't propose to turn out as pliantly as man might suppose. I have many things in my favor which this man Fay never possessed and never will possess. I have brain and muscle, a trade and profession, and friends who I have never betrayed, and I expect to live here and make a comfortable living for myself and family for a long time to come, in spite of this man Fay and his minions. Yes, Mr. Fay, I laugh to scorn all your vile attempts to deprive me of the means of making a livelihood. This bovine specimen with his suspension canine phiz does not need any more showing up; we will therefore close with this little hymn: Poor
Jimmy Fay, you've had your day,
Your tricks are aus gespielt, You jumped up a man the other day And got your peepers peeled. You stormed about the courthouse, And made yourself an ass, You run against an honest hand And straightway went to grass. The laboring man you would cut down To three bits worth of food, But for jailbirds' fare you do declare, That a dollar is none too good. You think you can make and remake men, And your friends may think so maybe, But your greatest effort in that line Was one very small gal baby. Now Jimmy go and bag your head, And say your name ain't Fay, And we'll put you in your little bed, And there we'll let you stay. Yours,
occasionally,
J. S. HOWARD. Suppose Miss Mary Langell does "attend to her father's business during his absence," don't Miss Nettie Howard do the same? and Miss Issie McCully attend to her own store and the Misses Cardwell do the same? What are you blowing about? "Brief Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, June 16, 1877, page 3 J. S. Howard and party, who are surveying the Sterling Creek ditch, came to town to celebrate the Fourth. Mr. Howard reports that his work will be completed next week. "Brief Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, July 7, 1877, page 3 J. S. Howard this week completed the survey of the Sterling Creek ditch. He will act as general superintendent for some time. "Brief Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, July 14, 1877, page 3 Howard is offering superior inducements in his line. He has a good stock, accommodating clerks, and everything is sold cheap. "Brief Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 9, 1877, page 3 A new style of pants have just been received at Howard's. From a careful examination made of them by our special reporter we judge they are a decided improvement over any heretofore introduced. Call around and have George show them to you. "Random Jottings," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, January 16, 1878, page 3 Howard's ledger shows payments directly to Levi Strauss & Co., which invented jeans in the 1870s. Howard has just received a splendid assortment of valentines. Attention is called to the new advertisement of James S. Howard, who keeps a first-class stock of general merchandise, cigars, tobaccos, nuts, candies, notions, etc., and sells lower than anybody. Give him a call. "Brief Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 8, 1878, page 3 J. S. Howard has just received a lot of fine silver watches. "Brief Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 15, 1878, page 3 APPROACHING COMPLETION.--J. S. Howard, superintendent of Klippel, Hanna & Co.'s diggings, was in town this week. We learn that he expects the digging of the ditch to be completed about the 10th of April. Messrs. Klippel, Hanna and Wilson will start for that destination next week, intending to shape matters for the early opening of the diggings. Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 29, 1878, page 3 Employing Chinese.
We referred last week to the fact that the Squaw Lake Ditch Co.,
Messrs. Thayer, Hanna, Klippel and others, all Democrats, discharged
white laborers and replaced them with Chinese. The Times invites
a full exposition of the whole matter by saying that "we fail to tell
the truth," referring to J. S. Howard (a Republican) for proof. That
model of refined journalism [i.e.,
the Times], so ready to give the lie in lieu of argument,
shall now be accommodated with the whole
truth, and we hope it will afford the Times
consolation. On the 26th day of November, 1877, articles of agreement
were made between Gee Yoke (Chinaman), party of the first part, and
Henry Klippel (Democrat), party of the second part, in which Gee Yoke
(Chinaman) agrees to furnish 33 Chinese laborers to work on the Squaw
Lake Ditch, and the said Henry Klippel (Democrat) agrees to pay them
$30 per month. On the 16th of December, 1877 an agreement was made
between Hog Pitt (Chinaman) and Henry Klippel (Democrat) to construct a
certain tunnel for said ditch company for a certain price. Gee Yoke
liked the terms and furnished 38 men. Hog Pitt employed 19 Chinese, and
the company hired about 45 white laborers. On the 9th day of January,
1878, J. S. Howard, as agent of the Squaw Lake Ditch Co., with its full
knowledge and sanction, discharged 40 white laborers, and Henry Klippel
(Democrat) paid them their money and saw them depart without shedding a
single tear. This is most surprising that he, whose breast is always
wrung for the sorrows of the white laborer about election time, should
have made no effort to retain these 40 white men in place of the filthy
Mongolian. Subsequently Hog Pitt's gang was filled up so that the two
gangs numbered 70 Chinamen, and with them and 8 white laborers the work
was finished. Mr. Thayer from the rostrum denounces Republicans for
introducing Chinese, ignorant, perhaps, that his own company had
preferred them to whites, and showing himself guilty of what the Times calls
"small demagoguism." In our remarks last week we did not insinuate that
Mr. Thayer had anything to do with the matter in question, but simply
called attention to the fact that Democrats were as eager to employ
Chinese as Republicans were, and now he and his friends can make the
most of it. We will now introduce the Times, or
rather Klippel's own witness, to verify the foregoing statement. The 40
whites who were discharged will speak for themselves on the 3rd of
June. And now Mr. Henry Klippel (Democrat) slips round stealthily, with
cat-like tread, among the miners and prejudices them against
Republicans as lovers and employers of Chinese.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 15, 1878, page 3 J. S. Howard has recently received some splendid jewelry. "Brief Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, June 14, 1878, page 3 The plug hat brigade paraded the streets on Sunday, in honor of Herman Helms' birthday. He was grand marshal, with J. S. Howard as chief aide. Howard, you know, is a surveyor, and it took all his skill to navigate clear of the shoals and breakers in the evening. Those hats looked as though the men had stood on their heads. "Jacksonville Items," Ashland Tidings, August 23, 1878, page 3 Chas. J. Howard of this place and Miss Cal. Briggs of Josephine County were united in the holy bonds of wedlock at the residence of the bride's parents, near Kerbyville on the 17th inst. Together with their many friends in this place we join in wishing them a long life of joy and prosperity, and hope that their troubles may be few and small. "Random Jottings," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 25, 1878, page 3 Howard's store, always full of sweetness. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, March 19, 1879, page 3 J. S. Howard has just received a large stock of elegant glassware, to say nothing of the numerous other articles he is now unpacking. "Brief Reference," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, June 27, 1879, page 3 M. Hanley has just had twelve hundred bushels of fine winter wheat ground at the Butte Creek Mill into extra [fine] family flour. The same is for sale at J. S. Howard's store. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, July 23, 1879, page 3 J. S. Howard has just received a most elegant stock of ribbons. The ladies will do well to give him an early call, for they are not liable to be on hand long. "Brief Reference," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, September 26, 1879, page 3 Next door to the New State Hotel we find Mr. Howard with his beautiful Bazaar, as he calls it, but really he has worked wonders. One can hardly imagine he could make such a change out of the old butcher shop and baker shop, yet he has done it at a cost, we judge, of $800, and Howard says he will sell goods cheaper than anybody for cash. Give him a call, for he is not such a bad fellow. "Jacksonville's Improvements for One Year," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 3, 1880, page 1 Howard took the time by the sun one day this week and found that the clocks and watches in town were fully a quarter of an hour slow. "Brief Reference," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 3, 1880, page 3 Kewanee, Henry County, Ills., was the scene of the golden wedding of Sullivan Howard and Elizabeth B. Little Howard, the aged parents of Jas. S. Howard, of Jacksonville. The ages of the venerable couple are given respectively as 73 years for the bride and 75 for the groom. Five out of six of the children of this old family were expected to be present at the old homestead to participate in the golden wedding, the absent one being James S. of this place, who sent his congraulations by telegraph. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, June 11, 1881, page 3 J. S. Howard received telegraphic instructions from Portland yesterday to go ahead with the railroad survey through Rogue River Valley from the point on Wagner Creek where he quit last Wednesday. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 6, 1881, page 3 RAILROADING.--James S. Howard and his son Charles have been offered positions on the O.&C.R.R. as surveyors in the work of locating the road and have accepted the job. They will leave here in a few days to commence work. Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville,
October 29, 1881, page 3
J. S. Howard says he will not be outsold by anyone in his line of general merchandise. Boots and shoes etc. Give him a call. A fine line of millinery goods, silks, satins and velvets and everything in the milliner's line just received at Mrs. J. S. Howard's. "Local
Items," Oregon Sentinel,
Jacksonville, November 3, 1883, page 3
The conflagration originated in the New State Saloon . . . in less time than it takes to tell it the whole structure was a mass of fire, which rapidly communicated with J. S. Howard's store adjoining, also a frame building. . . . J. S. Howard, building and stock of goods, $13,000; insurance, $4,500. "Great Conflagration," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 4, 1884, page 3 Jany.
15 / 84
If you wish to pay the $2000 out before the other arrives I wish it
paid pro rata to the creditors and when the other $2500 arrives I would
like to have this whole amount cover my entire indebtedness, and as I
have sent all that I have saved including the $500 insurance on
building I think creditors should have generosity enough to settle that
way in consideration of my heavy losses and my anxiety to resume
business again. If unwilling to do that all I can do is to request to
pay all pro rata and pay the balance when I can. The amount of my
indebtedness to merchants is $5089.Please acknowledge receipt and Oblige
yours respectfully
C. C. Beekman Papers Mss 916 Box
K, Letterpress Book 1
1882-1884, Oregon Historical Society Research
LibraryJames S. Howard Our old friend Howard of Medford is building a two-story brick store, and says he will have a grand parlor in the upper story for his lady customers, and will have a brass band to play on the piazza in front every evening. Howard is a lady's man and will spare no pains to please his lady customers, but we promised not to tell this, as it is intended as a grand surprise, and that is why we haven't said anything about it. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, June 20, 1885, page 3 J. S. Howard of Medford has gone to Galice Creek this week to survey claims and town property. "Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, July 4, 1885, page 3 Notary's commissions were granted yesterday to S. C. Benjamin, Grass Valley; Frank Snow, Lexington; X. N. Steeves, Portland; J. S. Howard, Medford. "Occidental Jottings," Capital Journal, Salem, December 1, 1888, page 4  March 14, 1885 Medford Monitor The Medford post office was moved into its new quarters, J. S. Howard's store, the other day, and the retiring P.M. has put up at the old office the sign "Closed four years for repairs," following the example of his predecessor and successor, Mr. Howard. "Medford Items," Ashland Tidings, November 8, 1889, page 2 The surprise attending Mayor Howard's winning the glass ball shoot on the Fourth has not yet altogether subsided. He is a bad man with a gun. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, July 18, 1890, page 3 J. S. HOWARD, Post Office Store. Dry Goods, Groceries, etc., 7th Street, bet. B and C. This substantial house is entitled to special notice as being the first store opened in the city. Mr. Howard was the first postmaster, and was reappointed one and one-half years ago. He was Mayor of the town for three terms, and has also been county surveyor. He deals in groceries, crockery, dry goods, underwear, embroideries, hats, caps, boots, shoes, etc. He offers superior inducements to customers in quality and price. Mr. Howard has been thirty-one years in this county, and is a native of New Hampshire. P. W. Croake, The Rogue River Valley, "The Italy of Oregon," Glass & Prudhomme, Portland, Oregon. Undated, written March 1891. Surveyor Howard has been at Palmer Creek surveying mining ground belonging to C. W. Kahler and Gin Lin. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 9, 1891, page 2 Postmaster Howard carried the Republican primaries here last Saturday for Hermann in hollow style. Those members of the G.O.P. who were not promptly on hand were spared the trouble of participating, as Bre'r H. had the delegates elected before they had time to even get around to see how it was done. "For ways that are dark," etc., John Chinaman not alone is peculiar. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 25, 1892, page 2 Postmaster Howard returned this week from his extended trip in the East. He was accompanied by a regulation grandpa hat and seems wonderfully proud of it. He visited the principal places in the East and reports an interesting and pleasant trip. "Local and General," Southern Oregon Mail, July 15, 1892, page 3 Grandpa's hat is a common sight about the streets of Medford these days. Postmaster Howard seems to have set the fashion, and it is taking like wildfire. "Local and General," Southern Oregon Mail, July 22, 1892, page 3 Wm. C. Boutelle, a United States postal inspector, paid Postmaster Howard an official visit Saturday. Of course he found everything in apple pie order. It was also found on investigation that J.S.'s Harrison plug was the only genuine bell-shaped grandpa hat in town. "Local and General," Southern Oregon Mail, August 12, 1892, page 3 J. S. Howard, the surveyor, is off on a two weeks' trip to Klamath County. Manager Koehler while here in a private car Friday gave him a special mission there in regard to some of the company's land matters. "Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, September 8, 1892, page 3 A federal officeholder at Medford, who makes some pretensions to being witty, was parading last evening with his Harrison hat draped with a copy of the Democratic Times, the portion towering above the crown being filled with hay, and bearing the legend "The Democratic Times and hayseeds have carried the country." Thanks, awfully; when we reflect that this same precious pretender was seen on the morning of election day posting a placard bearing the inscription, purporting to be an official document emanating from Chairman Harrity of the national Democratic committee, reading thus: "A vote for Cleveland is a vote for Harrison in Oregon; a vote for Weaver is a vote for Cleveland in Oregon," and having Mr. Harrity's forged signature attached, designed to fraudulently impress the Republicans in the People's Party fold with the necessity of going back to their former political affiliations. This deserves to rank with the fellow's other record as a politician. Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 11, 1892, page 2 I assume the "federal officeholder" was J. S. Howard. J. H. Faris and J. S. Howard of this city have lately been appointed notaries public by Gov. Pennoyer. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 23, 1892, page 2 Postmaster Howard--"When Charley was down at Grants Pass last week doing a job of surveying he found a corner stake that I set twenty-five years ago, and sticking in the ground near the stake he found one of my steel chain pins which I lost at the time I first surveyed the land. Yes, I know the lay of every foot of land for many miles in every direction." "Heard on
the Street,"
Medford
Mail, March 10, 1893, page 3
A few months ago an old prospector discovered nearly $5000 in the old stage road near Central Point. The excitement was intense in that section for a while, but perhaps the most excited individual was Postmaster Howard, of Medford. He thought, from the description of the place, that it was on some property he owned. So he engaged the services of a surveyor and hustled out there with blood in his eye, intending to prosecute the lucky prospector and take the gold away from him. But poor Howard was laughed at for his trouble, for when the survey was completed he found that his line came within 10 feet of the coveted spot. J. M. Hagerty, "Rich Gold Fields," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, July 14, 1893, page 3 Postmaster Howard has just commenced the foundation for his fine two-story residence building, adjoining the Baptist parsonage on C Street. In architectural design it is promised to be second to none. "And They
Do Build,"
Medford
Mail, August 11, 1893, page 3
But a still more practical joke was played upon a poor, dumb fowl, which originally belonged to one J. S. Howard, of Medford. The chick was happy in blissful ignorance until the wee sma' hours of nightfall placed it into the hands of some of the old comrades who had not forgotten how to forage, yet perhaps over thirty years have elapsed since the boys had to skirmish for something more than hardtack and army beans. This poor chicken was taken to camp in the old-fashioned way after the officers were supposed to be in dreamland soaring among the fancied fairies, but unluckily for the chicken fiends the rooster, which was a hen that had been setting for four months, let out an unearthly squawk, which put the whole camp in an uproar and brought instead defenders to its rescue, a lot of hungry, gleaming, glaring eyes, to gloat upon its prey, and amid cries from hungry women and children the poor old hen was torn in pieces and devoured with a relish by those who were able to obtain a piece, without salt and pepper, and one of the comrades says it was not even cooked. "Soldiers' and Sailors' Reunion," Medford Mail, October 20, 1893, page 1 J. S. Howard, of Medford, was out surveying in our neighborhood Wednesday morning before the settlers had arisen from their cozy night's sleep. J. S. proves to be an early riser. "Griffin Creek Gatherings," Medford Mail, October 27, 1893, page 2 Postmaster Howard has moved his surveyor's office to rooms over the post office. "All the Local News," Medford Mail, December 15, 1893, page 3 The present postmaster at Medford is J. S. Howard, who has lived in Jackson County since 1860. Mr. Howard is a civil engineer by profession, and he made the preliminary survey through Southern Oregon and Northern California for the Southern Pacific railroad. Jackson County was but sparsely settled at that time, and Medford had not yet been heard of. Mr. Howard thinks, however, that the development which this section of the country has had during recent years will be greatly increased in the future, owing to the natural resources of the district that, until recently, have been scarcely known. Edward Gardner Jones, ed., The Oregonian's Handbook of the Pacific Northwest, 1894, page 212 Mrs. J. S. Howard has been dangerously ill during the past week. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 8, 1894, page 3 Mrs. Briggs of Illinois Valley, who has been visiting her daughter, Mrs. C. J. Howard, and family, has returned home to Josephine County. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 15, 1894, page 3 Ex-Mayor G. W. Howard, now of Garfield County, Wash., spent Sunday in Medford en route to San Francisco. "Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, June 21, 1894, page 4 Postmaster Howard has gone to Ashland to indulge in the sulfur baths there and the medical qualities of Tolman's Springs. "Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, September 20, 1894, page 3 Postmaster Howard of this city is in Ashland again rejuvenating himself with the medicinal sulfur springs in the Granite City. "Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, January 24, 1895, page 4  Medford Mail, February 21, 1895, page 5 Government surveyor J. S. Howard is engaged right now in preparing a large map of Medford. The map will be 3x5 feet in size and will cover all the several additions to the original townsite. While Mr. H. is only figuring on getting out this one map, it is probable blueprints will be taken from it, should any of our people desire one. "News of the City," Medford Mail, December 11, 1896, page 7 MRS. J. S. HOWARD.
Omitting
nothing that contributes to a disclosure of the industries and
advantages of Medford we make mention in this issue of the inducements
offered to the public of the well-conducted store of Mrs. Howard. She
carries a general line of dry goods and groceries, crockery and country
produce. This house is truly a pioneer of Medford, having been
established in the county some twenty-four years, and is well deserving
of the reputation she has acquired for strict attention to business and
liberality in all dealings.
"Our
Business and
Professional People Briefly Mentioned," Medford Mail, May
28, 1897, page 3GENERAL MERCHANDISE. To Inspect Government Surveys.
Mr. J. S. Howard, the well-known civil engineer, came up from Medford
today. Mr. Howard was agreeably surprised a week ago upon the receipt
of a telegram from Hon. Binger Hermann, commissioner of the general
land office, notifying him of his appointment as an inspector of
government surveys, and a request that he telegraph his acceptance of
the appointment in order to expedite the issuance of his papers and
enable him to be assigned to work at the earliest possible time.
Heretofore this work has usually been done by inspectors who have been sent in from other states, and it is not unlikely that Mr. Howard will have work assigned to him outside the state in addition to the work of verifying government surveys made in Oregon the past year, which will include several contracts in Southern Oregon. Ashland Tidings, July 5, 1897, page 3 It is rumored that J. S. Howard has sold his stock of goods to White & Jacobs, of Jacksonville. Your correspondent has not heard the report confirmed as yet, although stock is being taken and C. J. Howard, agent for Wells Fargo Co.'s express, has removed to C Street near the post office. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, August 22, 1898, page 3 Lost--On September 5, from Fred Carter's wagon, between his place in The Meadows and the Jennings place at Table Rock, the tripod to my compass. Anyone finding the same will please leave it at the express office in Medford and receive pay for their trouble. J. S. Howard. "City Happenings," Medford Mail, September 30, 1898, page 7 Chas. J. Howard, our popular express agent, will soon remove to Josephine County, having purchased the Briggs farm near Kerbyville. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 21, 1898, page 2 J. S. Howard, the well-known surveyor, is engaged in preparing for the survey of the big ditch to be brought out of Rogue River, for the purpose of irrigating a greater portion of the valley. "Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 20, 1899, page 3 J. S. Howard and his party have commenced the survey of the ditch with which Ward & Pearce expect to cover the mining districts of Sardine, Sams, Galls, Foots and Kanes creeks. "Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, May 1, 1899, page 3 Mrs. John Power of San Francisco is paying her cousin, Mrs. G. S. Howard, a visit. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, May 8, 1899, page 3 J. S. Howard is engaged in making a survey for the high-line water ditch on the north side of Rogue River. The survey commences at a point 200 feet above the level of the water at Gold Hill, and will be continued easterly until it taps Rogue River, which, it is estimated, it will do about the foot of what is known as the big grade on the Fort Klamath road. "Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, May 11, 1899, page 3 ENGINEER HOWARD'S REPORT.
J. S. Howard, engineer of the preliminary survey of the Gold Hill High
Line Ditch, to Phoebe M. Dekum, president of the ditch company,
contains the following statements:The Preliminary Survey of the Gold Hill High Line Ditch-- Estimate Cost $700,000. The whole length of the ditch from Gold Hill to the point of diversion at Prospect is 93 miles. The grade of the ditch is five and twenty-eight hundredths feet to the mile. The ditch line is measured in all its sinuosities, and cross-sections taken at each 100-foot station and character of ground noticed as much as possible, and estimates made on this basis. The cost will be in the neighborhood of $700,000. The ditch will cover about 40,000 acres of tillable land. The construction of the ditch presents no formidable features; there is no ground of sliding nature on the entire line of the ditch. The waste in the driest time of the year will not exceed 20 percent, which can be obviated by the use of small branches for feeders. Gold Hill News, June 17, 1899, page 4 J. S. Howard, the political, social and scientific Nestor of Medford, was at the county seat Saturday. "From the County Seat," Ashland Tidings, January 1, 1900, page 2 J. S. Howard, of Medford, the all-around engineer and political Nestor of Jackson County, came up to the county seat Monday to attend a meeting of the Jackson County Land Association. Mr. Howard has been one of the prime factors in the upbuilding of Medford, which now has a vantage ground in the great trade of the valley that will soon make it the leading town of Southern Oregon, if indeed, it may not claim that distinction now. "Jacksonville News," Medford Mail, March 23, 1900, page 3 J. S. Howard, chief engineer of the High Line Ditch Company, is in Portland from Gold Hill, Jackson County. He has his estimates all complete for the letting of contracts in 10-mile sections, as, according to the promoters of the enterprise, work of excavation is to begin in September. The ditch, he says, is to tap Rogue River at the upper rapids, and will be 94 miles long, terminating at Gold Hill. There will be 11,000 feet of flume, 11 feet wide and six feet deep, using 1,500,000 feet of lumber in its construction. Where excavated, the canal will be 14 feet wide at top, eight feet at bottom, and six feet deep. A right of way 50 feet wide has been obtained through the railroad and desert lands along its route. The grade is one inch in 1000, or 528 feet per mile, and the velocity of the current will be 15,681 cubic feet per minute, which equals 10,455 miner's inches, California measure. A miner's inch equals one cubic foot of water per second. Two siphons are figured in the estimates. One of these is to be at Trail Creek Canyon, 2870 feet long, 400 feet depression, with 40 feet head, consisting of three parallel lines of 34-inch diameter steel pipe. At Elk Creek a similar siphon, 4740 feet long, will cross the canyon. These pipes will save the construction of over 20 miles of canal in a rugged country. The company hopes to put the work through within one year after the excavators have been put to work. Several hundred men will be given employment during its construction, which will be begun at the upper end, in order to float the lumber needed for flumes and culverts down from sawmills to be erected above. The ditch will supply water for a number of promising placer mines in Jackson County, which it will enable to run the year around. A large amount of farming land will also be irrigated along its route, and the town of Gold Hill will be supplied with pure water from upper Rogue River. Portland capital is backing the enterprise--Oregonian. Gold Hill News, June 23, 1900, page 1 J. S. Howard commenced work Tuesday on a new residence, to be built on one of his vacant lots on West Sixth Street. The building will be 22x24 feet in size and one story high. It is being built very substantial throughout and will be one of the neatest and best cottages in the city. It will cost about $800 and will be for rent. "Additional Local Items," Medford Mail, September 7, 1900, page 6 The death of Mrs. Emma Howard, wife of Geo. S. Howard, of this city, occurred at the family residence Thursday morning, of pneumonia. She has been ill for several months, and her life has been despaired of for many weeks, notwithstanding that everything medical aid could do was done for her. She leaves a husband and two little children, besides a large number of other relatives and friends to mourn her loss. The funeral services will be held at the family residence on Friday, March 29th. She was thirty-five years of age. "Additional Local," Medford Mail, March 29, 1901, page 6 J. S. Howard is over at Kirby this week visiting his son, C. J. Howard, and family. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, July 19, 1901, page 6 J. S. Howard and son, George, left Tuesday evening for Gold Hill, where the senior Mr. Howard has an extensive surveying contract. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, July 26, 1901, page 6 Engineer J. S. Howard has located his camp at Maple Spring, just below Tolo, in surveying the Ray canal. It is to be of large dimension, crossing Bear Creek at Tolo, tapping the desert and Eagle Point, and heading at the falls near Prospect. "Gold Hill Items," Medford Mail, August 2, 1901, page 3 J. S. Howard returned Tuesday from a quite extended business visit in Portland. Mr. Howard is one of the busiest men in all Southern Oregon these times, there being so many projects and enterprises under way that require the services of a civil engineer--and J. S. seems to fill the bill in the opinion of many of the projectors. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, September 6, 1901, page 6 C. J. Howard, formerly Wells Fargo express agent in Medford, now an honest, horny-handed tiller of the soil in Josephine County, was visiting his many Medford friends Tuesday. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, October 11, 1901, page 6 Surveyor J. S. Howard returned Monday from the Willow Springs district, where he has been surveying thirty-six mining claims for the Southwest Oregon Mining Company, of Portland, in the Willow Springs and Kanes Creek districts. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, November 22, 1901, page 6 Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Howard left Sunday for Covina, Calif., where they will spend two or three months with their son-in-law, B. S. Webb, and family. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, December 27, 1901, page 4 Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Howard returned to Medford Thursday evening after a several months' visit with their daughter, Mrs. B. S. Webb, and family, of Covina, California. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, April 4, 1902, page 6 Mr. and Mrs. Howard returned Thursday after a visit with their daughter, Mrs. B. S. Webb, and family at Covina, Cal. "Society: Medford," Sunday Oregonian, Portland, April 6, 1902, page 21 Surveyors J. S. Howard and W. F. Hunter have been engaged with a crew of men running lines and platting the Braden mining property for C. R. Ray. "Gold Hill Items," Medford Mail, April 25, 1902, page 3 J. S. Howard returned Sunday from Gold Hill, where he has been during the week surveying mining claims. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, July 25, 1902, page 6 J. S. Howard, after a short visit at home, has resumed surveying for Dr. Ray, in the vicinity of Gold Hill. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, August 7, 1902, page 5 J. S. Howard, the veteran civil engineer, has returned to the vicinity of Gold Hill, where he is engaged in surveying for Dr. Ray and others. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, August 21, 1902, page 5 Chas. J. Howard, a prominent citizen of Josephine County, and his family are visiting in Medford. They formerly resided here. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, September 18, 1902, page 1 C. J. Howard and family, of Kerby, Josephine County, are in Medford and will remain a few weeks. Mrs. H. will put up fruit for winter consumption, while C. J. is engaged in engineering work on the High Line Ditch along Rogue River. Mr. Howard is now up at Elk Creek running preliminary lines, a change in the line of the ditch where it crosses the canyons of Elk and Trail creeks. As originally planned it was the intention to carry the water across these canyons by means of a pipeline in order to save distance, but a change of plan is now in order by which the water will be carried in an open ditch to a point further up the canyon on each creek, and a favorable point being found, thence across in flumes. This will necessitate the building of some fifteen miles more ditch than at first contemplated, but is regarded as the more satisfactory plan. The preliminary survey now being made will be followed immediately by the permanent one, and a sufficient force of men will be put on to complete the work in a short time. "City Happenings," Medford Mail, September 19, 1902, page 7 Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Lyle, of Milton, Iowa, stopped off in Medford last Saturday for a few days' visit with Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Howard. Mr. Lyle is a nephew of Mrs. Howard. He is a capitalist, and himself and wife are enjoying a few months' visit to various places on the coast. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, October 10, 1902, page 6 Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Howard during the week received a visit from Geo. Lyle of Milton, Iowa, a nephew of the latter, and his wife. They are on a pleasure trip of the coast. "Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 16, 1902, page 2
Surveyor J. S. Howard returned Monday evening to his work as engineer
and superintendent of construction at the Ray works, near Tolo. He
reports that on Saturday last an electric light plant was installed and
is operating finely. There are twelve arc lights used, and these are
scattered about the works, making the place as light as day, thus
enabling the night shift of workmen to accomplish as good results as
those working in the daytime. Gasoline torches were formerly used. The
sawmill at the works has also been started. The grade stakes have been
driven for a wagon road directly across the hills from the works to Mr.
Ray's Braden mine. Mr. Howard has been able to establish a grade, the
steepest part of which is only one foot of a rise in eleven. As soon as
the fall rains come grading work will commence.
"City Happenings," Medford Mail, October 17, 1902, page 7 G. S. Howard, who has been employed on the High Line Ditch for several weeks past, returned to Medford Monday, the weather being such that camping out and sleeping on the ground had ceased to be comfortable. "Purely Personal," Medford Mail, November 14, 1902, page 6 ABOUT THE ROGUE RIVER VALLEY.
The following letter contains so much of information about Rogue River
Valley that we are certain it will be read with much interest by
persons interested in this section of the country:
MR. HENRY A. TOWNSEND, TRAVELING AND IMMIGRATION AGENT, DES MOINES, IOWA--Dear Sir: Your favor of the 6th inst. is at hand, and I take this first opportunity to answer it, and I am glad of the opportunity to give any information possible to intending settlers, and I feel I am fairly qualified regarding land conditions here, for I have resided continuously in this country for 42 years, during which time I have been employed continuously, either as county surveyor, U.S. deputy surveyor, U.S. mineral surveyor and special agent of the general land office as inspector of surveys. In answer to your question regarding tracts of government land on which desirable homesteads could be had, I will say that the area known as "Rogue River Valley" is that portion of Southern Oregon lying between the Cascade and Coast ranges of mountains, and embraces Josephine and Jackson counties, and for the reason of it being sheltered from the cold winds from the east and the storms of the Pacific on the west, by the mountain ranges on either side, is justly celebrated for the mildness of its climate and the great variety of its productions. The area of the two counties is 120 townships, less than one-fourth of which is suitable for cultivation and settlement, the rest being foothills and mountains, covered with forests of pine, fir, cedar, oak and laurel timber, the best portion of which has been taken under the timber act. The foothills and mountains on the west abound in mines of gold and copper, the gold mines having been worked since 1851. In the spring of 1852 there was a great rush to the gold mines near Jacksonville. The consequence was that the Rogue River Valley had a large population when a goodly portion of Iowa was a wilderness. The government, as an inducement to settlers in Oregon, had passed a "donation" act, giving a man and wife 640 acres and a single man 320 acres, as homesteads. The consequence was that most all of the rich valley lands were quickly located, and since then the settlements have been crowding up into the foothills and auxiliary valleys until nearly all the locations fit for settlement have been taken up, so at this time, I am sorry to say that I do not know of a single desirable tract for a homestead in the two counties. Immigrants should not be induced to come here thinking that they can find desirable homesteads, for they will be sadly disappointed, either here or any of the valleys between the Cascade and Coast ranges. Notwithstanding there is no desirable lands for homestead, this is the most desirable place in the United States for a man with moderate means (from $1,000 up) to make a home in. He can do it quicker and easier and without suffering the discomforts of the rigorous climate localities further east. We have a greater variety of industries than most any other locality. We have fruit, grain, stock, timber and mines. None of these suffer depression at the same time, so we always have plenty of recourses to keep our people from suffering. The pioneers who took up the large homesteads 50 years ago are fast passing away, and their rich holdings are being divided up and sold in small tracts suitable for cozy homes, and large tracts which were entered upon by stockmen years ago for grazing purposes are grazed out and require cultivation, and are being sold in small tracts upon which good homes are being made. The large herds of stock are being transferred to the wild grazing lands "east of the mountains," and the land heretofore devoted to that purpose is being planted in fruit or used for grain raising. The fruit industry, which started shortly after the advent of the railroad here, bids to be the leading industry, and the results have been highly satisfactory since the orchards have become bearing. Of the fruits, we raise apples, pears, peaches, apricots, nectarines and prunes; also all kinds of grapes in as great perfection as in California. Soft-shelled almonds are easily raised, and quite a quantity have already been shipped. English walnuts and most any other walnuts are easily raised here. Apples are raised more than any other fruit, as their keeping qualities enable them to be shipped long distances; a large portion of our crop is now sold in England, some of our best varieties having been sold in London at 14 shillings for a box of 45 pounds. The Spitzenberg and Yellow Newtown Pippins are the favorite apples, as they are raised in greater perfection than anywhere else in the world and readily command $1.00 per box, f.o.b. here. The orchards commence bearing in from 5 to 8 years from the time of planting, according to the soil, whether it is warm and dry or rich and moist. One of the first orchards set out here bore about one box to the tree at five years old, the trees being set out about fifty trees to the acre. Trees at 8 years old average about 5 boxes, and as they grow older from 10 to 20 boxes. From ten-acre tracts here have been sold this season from $2,000 to $6,000 worth of apples; on the $6,000 ten-acre tract the trees had been set out from 8 to 10 years. The trees are generally set out 30 feet apart, and for the first four or five years corn or other cereals are raised between the rows. After that time the trees require the use of all the ground. Good orchard land can be had from $6 to $100 per acre, according to quality and location, near or remote from the railroad. There are many crops that can be profitably raised besides apples. One man realized $600 per acre from two acres of onions this year; hops have been a profitable crop in some localities. On lands that can be irrigated alfalfa can be raised from 5 to 8 tons per acre for the three crops. There is a creamery in successful operation in the upper part of the valley, and another is to be started here soon. There are sawmills, sash and door factories and box factories in different parts of the valley; there are numerous quartz mills in the mines; there are two enormous dams being constructed on Rogue River, costing at $75,000, each for the purpose of generating electric power for the mines and for mills to work up our fine bodies of timber. One large irrigating ditch, costing over $100,000, is being constructed and nearing completion, and another much larger under contemplation. So with the large force employed in the orchards and other industries, together with the mines, there is abundant employment for those who want to work. Our climate is very mild (no coal famine here), very seldom falling below 32 degrees above zero. In the 42 years that I have been here the lowest was 4 degrees above zero, and that only once in a great many years. We have but very little wind here, as we are sheltered by the mountains. We have as good schools as you have in the East and a full complement of churches. Our people are fully civilized and will gladly welcome any who may come among us to help develop our resources, and while we have no homestead government tracts to offer, we think our country offers many inducements to homeseekers that the newer and more remote portions of the country do not have. Very respectfully yours, J. S. HOWARD.
Medford
Mail, January 23, 1903, page 3Medford, Jackson County, Oregon, Jan. 15, 1903. A Gigantic Enterprise.
T.
J. Pearce, one of the leading spirits of the High Line Ditch, spent
Wednesday and Thursday in Medford. He speaks encouragingly of that
enterprise, and says that it will be completed in due course of time,
even if it is nearly 100 miles long. M. P. Ward, who is one of Mr.
Pearce's colleagues, is in the East, enlisting the assistance of
capitalists, and is meeting with a favorable response. J. S. Howard,
the veteran civil engineer, is in charge of the work. Rights of way for
nearly the whole distance from upper Rogue River to Gold Hill have been
secured. The ditch is really a canal, which will have a breadth of 21
feet and to nine feet wide at the bottom and six feet deep. It will
furnish water for mining and irrigation purposes to a very large area
of Jackson County, to say nothing of providing means for putting lumber
and other products at the railroad with speed and at small
expense. The
completion of this enterprise will consume $1,500,000. It is one of the
most important ever completed in Southern Oregon and should receive
every encouragement possible.Democratic Times, Jacksonville, July 1, 1903, page 3 JAMES SULLIVAN HOWARD. To his occupations of surveying and engineering James Sullivan Howard has brought as fine a mind, as practical and thorough an equipment, and as inspiring an enthusiasm as any man similarly employed on the Pacific Coast. It is reasonable to suppose that this honored citizen of Medford will surrender to others the carrying out of such tasks as has been allotted to his talent before many years have passed, and when that time comes he may regard with greatest satisfaction his life work, for no class of men have made more vigorous strokes toward the present than these same engineers, whose chain and compass and mathematical equations have brought order out of chaos, and made tracks through the dense timberlands. Few engineering projects of an important nature in the southern part of the state but have been under his direct supervision, and the name of Mr. Howard is therefore intimately associated with the potent developing forces of the state. As the name indicates and history records, the Howards are first heard of in England, and those bearing the name have attained to distinction in affairs of church and state in the mother country, becoming prominent also in literary, professional and commercial life, the tendency being towards brilliancy and versatility. At least four generations of the family have been identified with Hillsboro County, N.H., where settled the paternal great-grandfather of James Sullivan Howard upon coming from England long before the Revolutionary War. His son, Samuel, spent his life at Temple, Hillsboro County, served as selectman for many years, and enlisted from there for service in the War of Independence. He reared a large family of children, among whom was Capt. Sullivan Howard, the father of James Sullivan Howard, born in New Hampshire in 1806. Captain Howard gained his rank as head of the state militia at Mason, Hillsboro County, in which locality he was prominent as a politician and businessman. He married Elizabeth B. Little, born in Hollis, N.H., in 1808, and daughter of Abner B. Little, a native farmer of the vicinity of Hollis. Captain Howard came to Kewanee, Ill., in 1836, accompanied by his father-in-law, Abner Little, the latter of whom died in Kewanee at the advanced age of ninety-two. Captain Howard settled on a farm in what was then a wilderness, and in time became one of the founders of Kewanee, his enterprise and high-minded zeal forcibly impressing themselves upon the growth of the community. From the humble capacity of carpenter and expert mechanic he advanced to the position of vice-president of the First National Bank of Kewanee, also holding many important political offices in the county. He was a member of the Board of Trade of Chicago, Ill., and was everywhere recognized as a solid and substantial businessman. His death occurred in 1887, his wife surviving him until 1892. There were three sons and four daughters in the family, of whom one daughter is deceased. The others are: Horace, a resident of Chicago; Henry, a farmer in Kansas; Mary E., the wife of James Gridley, a hardware merchant of Victor, Iowa; Harriett E., the widow of Zac Squires of Chicago, and now residing in Los Angeles, Cal.; Martha C., now Mrs. Cyrus Wells of Minneapolis, Minn., a literary and business woman possessing remarkable executive ability, and honored as one of the lady commissioners of the St. Louis Exposition in 1904; and Nancy, deceased. After graduating from the high school of Kewanee, Ill., James Sullivan Howard, who was born in Hillsboro County, N.H., April 21, 1832, attended an academy on the corner of Clark and Washington streets, Chicago, and at the age of twenty-one he embarked upon an independent career as a furniture dealer in Kewanee. December 21, 1855, he married Margaret E. Snuggs, born in England March 7, 1831, a daughter of Samuel Snuggs, also a native of England. Mr. Snuggs brought his family to American in 1850, locating in Stark County, Ill., where he farmed until his death, at the age of sixty. In 1859 Mr. Howard started with his wife and three children for Pike's Peak, Colo., but on the way changed his mind, and came to Oregon instead. His equipment consisted of ox teams and wagons, and his route lay via the Platte River, Salt Lake and the Humboldt to Jacksonville, at which town he arrived with fifty cents in his pocket. About this time the rains began to fall, and the prospect was a dismal one, especially after the fifty cents had been spent for supper. Fortunately, the cattle had survived the journey, and were in fairly good condition, thus insuring food for some time to come. Mr. Howard found work as a carpenter, but for some time had little opportunity to use the surveying instruments upon which hung his success of the future, and which already constituted one of his prized possessions. As the country began to settle chances came his way, and in time he devoted his entire energy to surveying and engineering, his star of success ascending continually and with splendid results. Such important commissions as the preliminary survey of the Southern Pacific Railway, from the Rogue to the Klamath rivers, has been accomplished by him, as well as surveying the Sterling mining ditch from Little Applegate to the Sterling Mine, a distance of twenty-four miles, and the Oregon Mountain Road, from Waldo, Ore., to Crescent City, Cal. For practically the entire time since 1872 he has been a member of the United States Mineral Survey. He also served for many years as special agent for examining surveys of the United States Land Office, operating in Oregon and Arizona, but this position he resigned in 1898 to take charge of the survey of the Gold Hill high line ditch in Jackson County. This ditch, one hundred and forty-five miles long, is now in process of construction. Mr. Howard was the engineer of the Condor Dam on the Rogue River, in Jackson County, which was finished at a cost of $100,000. This dam fulfills many important expectations, and will be used for generating electric power for lighting, railroad, mining, and manufacturing purposes. Mr. Howard has surveyed nearly all the mining claims in southern Oregon. No man in the country has more modern appliances for carrying on his work, and among these is a solar compass which has tested the ingenuity of one of the foremost manufacturers in the world. He does not use a needle, as do most surveyors. Notwithstanding his great and absorbing undertakings as an engineer, Mr. Howard has gained a reputation also as a merchant, having established a store in Jacksonville in 1878. He was one of the first residents of Medford, and long before its present prosperity had been thought of he brought the first load of lumber to the townsite and built one of the first structures. He was ably assisted in the work of upbuilding the embryo hamlet by his sons, who ran a general store, while their father served as the president of the first board of the town, and took an active interest in establishing municipal order. He was the first postmaster, serving seven years, and for ten years he had charge of the Wells-Fargo express office. From time to time he has owned large tracts of farming and mining lands, and is an officer in the Jackson County Land Association, incorporated, and general agent of the company at this town. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined Lodge No. 10, at Jacksonville, in 1872, eventually becoming a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 103, of Medford. His trained and accurate mind has foreseen advantages for his adopted community, and his zeal and public-spirited enterprise have inspired others to assist in carrying out these same designs. He has the faculty of disseminating enthusiasm, and inspiring others to do their best. A student always, he keeps abreast of the times, not only as regards engineering, but in connection with affairs which engage the attention of bright minds in many departments of activity. Mr. Howard has four living children and eleven grandchildren to perpetuate his name and large life purpose. Two of his children are deceased, Horace and Eliza, the youngest children. Charles J., the oldest son, a farmer and surveyor of Kerby, Ore., was state representative from Josephine County in 1880, and has also been county surveyor of Jackson County; George S., a printer by trade, is a resident of Medford; Nettie L. is the wife of B. S. Webb of Covina, Cal., and Martha C. is the wife of James Roberts of Medford, Ore. Mr. Howard is a Republican in politics, and has been county surveyor for six terms. Portrait and Biographical Record of Western Oregon, Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904, page 609 A Horticultural Railroad.
J. S. Howard, the veteran civil
engineer, has
finished surveying a side track about three miles south of Medford. The
[Voorhies]
siding is to be put in south from the county road which runs west from
Samuel Van Dyke's place, and on the west side of the railroad track,
and will be 760 feet long. One hundred and seventy feet by 885 feet of
land has been set aside for the use of the side track and warehouses.
It is for the convenience of several orchardists in the vicinity, who
have previously been compelled to haul their fruit to Medford. All
fruit loaded there will be billed as having been loaded at
Medford. It
is understood that the orchardists in that section contributed and
purchased the land aside from that covered by the right of way from
Messrs. Gore and Van Dyke. The Southern Pacific expects to complete the
work in time to accommodate the next year's fruit crop.Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 24, 1904, page 1 J. S. Howard is the subject of an interesting sketch in the mining columns of the Portland Telegram, of Friday. It is prefaced as follows: "Interested in the development of the mines of Jackson and Josephine counties for 44 years is the experience of J. S. Howard, a pioneer of that section. He is now chief engineer of the Gold Hill High Line Ditch Company, one of the greatest undertakings in Oregon. Mr. Howard is from Illinois and came to Jacksonville 44 years ago, and for the last half of that time has made Medford his home. He is enthusiastic over the outlook of Southern Oregon in mining, both in placer and quartz, and states that the country has not been prospected." "Mining Notes," Ashland Tidings, April 28, 1904, page 2 J. S. Howard:--"The failure of the city water supply has given occasion for a considerable amount of discussion on both sides of the question, and some are disposed to lay the blame upon the city councils of previous years. While mistakes may have been made--we are all of us human and prone to err--I am inclined to believe that each of those bodies has acted to the best of its knowledge and ability. The problem of securing an adequate water supply can be solved I believe at a comparatively small expense and in such a way that the city can be sure of an ample supply for many years to come, or until some of the numerous projects for piping water mountain here crystallize into the real thing. J. S. Barnett, near Central Point, has a well in the creek bottom from which he is pumping water to irrigate about forty acres of land, and the supply seems inexhaustible. The same kind of a well could be sunk on the east side of the creek here, and the same result secured, as there is a strong flow of water at a reasonable depth there. Then again water could be secured west and south of town by a series of wells and tunnels. From this season's experience it is evident that some steps must be taken to remedy the evil." "Street Echoes," Medford Mail, August 25, 1905, page 1 Civil engineer J. S. Howard has just completed a large blueprint map of the city of Medford, which would be a great convenience in the office of every business and professional man in the city. The map, like all Mr. Howard's work, is strictly accurate. It can be mounted on a roll, so that it takes up but little wall space and is altogether one of the most convenient and useful maps one could find. Mr. Howard is prepared to take orders for these maps. Blueprints of township maps, showing all vacant land, fifty cents each. For reliable information concerning government land, write to Frank E. Alley, Abstractor, Roseburg, Oregon. "City Happenings," Medford Mail, October 6, 1905, page 5 J. S. Howard:--"Do I remember 'Uncle Jimmy' Twogood? I certainly do, although he left this country soon after I came. Still I remember that he had about the best memory for dates and statistics of anyone I ever met. Jump him up anywhere and ask him for dates and figures concerning any occurrence with which he had been connected and he would give them to you--quick as a flash, and they were always correct. So he is still living and scored the Mail for a small error in Col. Maury's memorial notice? I traded with Maury & Davis when I first came to Jacksonville, and that firm erected the first brick in Southern Oregon, where the Jacksonville town hall now stands." "Street Echoes," Medford Mail, April 6, 1906, page 1 SAFE, SANE AND PROGRESSIVE.
Our city council did the right thing in naming Hon. J. S. Howard a
permanent mayor of Medford at its last meeting. Since the townsite of
Medford was first laid out J. S. Howard has always been at the front,
advocating the right thing at the right time for the good of Medford,
and it is but right to give him a big share of the credit for the
growth and progress of the city. Medford has had good mayors in the
past and we have been fortunate in our recent pro tem mayor, who has
shown himself fully equal to all emergencies, but in Mr. Howard we have
a man who is up to date with the best of them, a man who has been
identified with the city since its earliest days, the man above all
others to whom we owe the fine road system which encircles the town, a
man whose foresight is responsible for much of the good work done in
the past, and a man who is not in any way identified with any faction
or class. We believe, like the city council, that he is the man for the
hour.Medford Mail, August 10, 1906, page 1 J. S. Howard:--"I want to sell my real estate and other interests here and move to more congenial climes, and the reason is this. The other evening, having nothing else to do, I took down my nautical almanac and went back some twenty years, to find out the exact position of the North Star, which is generally supposed to be a 'fixed star' and not vary in its position. I found, however, that the star has declined--that is, is nearer to--toward the North pole, eleven minutes of latitude during the last twenty years, showing conclusively that the earth is gradually changing its axis, and is turning so that those portions of the globe now covered with ice will be eventually brought directly under the sun's rays, and consequently become the tropics instead of the frozen regions. I calculated that in about 100,000 years from now--I don't like to say it, for fear of discouraging prospective investors--the North Pole will be located just about the summit of Roxy Ann. I expect to be away from here by that time, however, but I have thought of a plan by which we might save our successors considerable trouble. We could make a map of the probable location of the pole at that time and send it north as far as we could, during our generation, and have it handed down from generation to generation--somewhat in the same manner that ancient swords and things are handed down--until everybody forgets their history. Someday the ancient record would be deciphered by some student or explorer, and the problem of ages would be solved. The authentic information would be given that the North Pole was located upon the summit of Roxy Ann in the Rogue River Valley. Of course, it will be just as difficult then as it is now to reach the North Pole, but the memory of the red and yellow apples of this country will have not died out even by that time, so that everyone will then know where the North Pole is." "Street Echoes," Medford Mail, July 27, 1906, page 1 The Big Bend Milling Co., which is composed of W. I. Vawter, A. A. Davis, Geo. W. Howard and others, has sold its timber holdings in the Big Butte and Rogue River districts. Nearly 6000 acres were sold to the Iowa Lumber and Box Co. and the balance, amounting to nearly 2000 acres more, was purchased by parties interested in the Butte Falls Lumber Co. The terms are private, but the transaction was the largest ever consummated in Southern Oregon and involved a large sum. "A Brief Record of Local Events," Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, October 19, 1906, page 5 J. S. Howard:--"What do I know about railroad lands? Not a thing. I wrote to the head office a few months ago asking for information and the answer I received was so very caustic that I decided if they ever got me in line for anything that would tend to their good they would have to explain away some few little items which I have laid up. No, I do not know that any of their lands are as yet on the market. You might write to C. W. Eberline, Land Agent, San Francisco." "Things Told on the Street," Medford Mail, November 23, 1906, page 1 Mayor Howard:--"Yes, the numbering of resident and business houses is a matter which ought to be taken up, and I shall recommend that the council take action with a view to carrying out the project. I have already made up a dummy system which I shall present at the next session. The matter of lettering the streets should also be taken up." "Things Told on the Street," Medford Mail, December 7, 1906, page 1 J. S. Howard, "The evils of the saloon were forced upon me during my tenure of office as mayor. Then many women came to me begging me to do something to save their husbands from drink." "Temperance Rally," Medford Mail, February 7, 1908, page 4 GLADDENED HIS HEART.
Mr.
and Mrs. James Howard and children of Kerby, Or., visited in Medford
yesterday with Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Howard. The children of Mr. and Mrs.
James Howard are great-grandchildren of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Howard of
this city, and J. S. was just a little prouder of those children than
any parent ever was of their offspring, and he was like a schoolboy in
dancing attendance to them during their brief visit here.
Medford Mail, August 7, 1908, page 2 SOME INTERESTING FACTS IN THE
HISTORY OF MEDFORD.
The
claim is made for Medford that it has the largest post office receipts
of any town in the United States that is without a free delivery
service. The receipts for the year 1908 were $14,597.65. The receipts
for 1907 were $10,844.08, which gives a gain of $3,753.57 for the last
year, a proof that Medford is growing rapidly. The regulations of the
Post Office Department require that a post office shall have receipts
exceeding $10,000 a year before a free delivery service is granted.
Application was made by Postmaster Woodford some months ago for free
delivery service for Medford, but the request was turned down for the
time being by the Postmaster-General, he alleging that the government
was without funds to meet any added expense in the postal service. It
is expected that the free delivery will be granted with the beginning
of the April quarter for this year.
The Medford post office is now twenty-five years old, having been established in the spring of 1884. The first mail was kept in a cigar box, then as the business grew a soap box was installed, partitioned to have nine compartments. Then later a small dry goods box with sections was added to the equipment. And Medford, then as now, was a growing town and soon this equipment would not suffice and a case, made of 1x6 lumber and having thirty sections, was put up and soon this was replaced with a full complement of call and lock boxes. All this equipment of the pioneer post office for Medford is now in the office of J. S. Howard, the veteran surveyor, in the Adkins block, and is among the most treasured relics that Mr. Howard has of early days in Rogue River Valley. Mr. Howard was the first postmaster for Medford and held the office for eight years, and then in after years he served six years more. Mr. Howard was one of the pioneers of Jacksonville and laid off the townsite for that town. At the time the Oregon & California Railroad, now a part of the Southern Pacific system, was headed for Rogue River Valley from Portland, Mr. Howard had a large general merchandise store in Jacksonville, which his wife and sons conducted while he was out on surveying trips. In the big fire that destroyed most of the business section of Jacksonville in 1883 [the fire began at 2 a.m. on January 1, 1884] Mr. Howard lost his store and building and was left almost penniless [other than his home, considerable real estate and small fire insurance settlement]. The railroad having reached Grants Pass in the fall of 1883, the grading was pushed so that trains were run into Medford early the following spring. During the fall and just preceding the building of the railroad Mr. Howard's son, Charles J. Howard, now residing near Kerby, surveyed the townsites for Grants Pass, Gold Hill, Central Point and Medford. In January 1884, Mr. Howard came to Medford and erected the first building on the townsite. [Phipps' and Broback's houses preceded Howard's, of course, as did four blacksmith shops built in December 1883 and an unknown number of other structures. Howard's Medford store was completed by December 21, ten days before the Jacksonville fire.] It still stands in the original location, which is just south of the Nash Hotel on Front Street, and is now occupied by the Distillery saloon. When first erected the building was 16x24 feet, one story, it being enlarged later on by Mr. Howard to its present size. So soon as the building 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. A fiddler was brought from Big Sticky and a jolly time was had until well along toward morning. The affair had been gotten up hurriedly, and no preparation made for a supper, so Mr. Howard at the midnight hour served a lunch of sardines and crackers, he not being able to give his guests an elaborate supper such as Mrs. Howard would have served, for he was batching, the family yet residing in Jacksonville. Mr. Howard so soon as he had his building completed, for he was the carpenter, put in a stock of goods. This was the first store in Medford, and though a humble beginning it was a worthy forerunner of the splendid mercantile establishments that are now making Medford such an important trade center for Southern Oregon. With the completion of the building, the rear portion of which was arranged for residence purposes, Mr. Howard moved his family from Jacksonville to Medford, so that to Mrs. Howard belongs the honor of founding the first home in the town. [William Angle and H. C. Mulvany completed homes in Medford in January 1884; Howard's family joined him in Medford sometime in March. Medford's first birth was a daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. George Wilson on December 28, 1883.] Mr. Howard, in addition to being the first postmaster, the first merchant and the first civil engineer in Medford, was the first express agent, he opening an office for Wells Fargo Company at the time the trains began to run to the town. [It was A. L. Johnson who opened the Wells Fargo agency in March 1884; Howard succeeded him in May.] He was also the first notary public and made out papers and was legal advisor for the little community. But as the original and first Medford booster is the greatest credit due to J. S. Howard, for since the time that he first saw the promising possibilities for the future of the town he has not let pass a single opportunity to secure an advantage that would aid in the upbuilding of the place. It was due very largely to Mr. Howard's public spirit that Medford got the land for its park, a block for the west side school [Washington School], formerly the high school, and that all the first churches were given building lots. The land for the townsite was owned by C. C. Beekman of Jacksonville, and I. J. Phipps and C. W. Broback [and Conrad Mingus,] who owned farms near where the town now is. They each gave half of their holdings of the townsite to the Oregon & California Railroad Company in consideration of the company making Medford a station, Jacksonville having refused to put up a bonus to secure the railroad. [Click here for material on the bonus myth.] Mr. Howard was appointed agent by the railroad company to dispose of its lands, and he got the company to donate to the town the block on which the park is now located. The adjoining park block, now occupied by the city water tank, was a partial gift from Mr. Beekman, he selling it to the town at half-price, $250. Mr. Beekman gave the half-block now occupied by the Presbyterian Church and manse. The grounds for the Episcopal, the M.E. Church, and the M.E. South Church were given by the railroad company. That Medford might have been Central Point and Central Point been Medford so far as their present relative sizes [are concerned] is due to the enterprise of Mr. Howard, for he led in the effort that secured for Medford the terminus of the railroad that was built to connect Jacksonville with the Oregon & California road. [No other source substantiates this claim.] The building of this road gave Medford its first big boost. The proposed boulevard to the famous Crater Lake, now such an important project with the Medford boosters, was first brought to the attention of the world by the survey for a wagon road from Jacksonville to Fort Klamath by way of Crater Lake, made by Mr. Howard in 1868 for Jackson County. Mr. Howard made the preliminary survey over the Siskiyou Mountains and through Rogue River Valley for the railroad that now passes through this valley, and the route that he selected through the gorges and wilds of the mountains is the one on which the railroad was built in after years. In about all the public undertakings that have been factors in the development of Rogue River Valley and of the upbuilding and prosperity of Medford Mr. Howard has taken an active part with his personal efforts and with his money. He now has a comfortable home in the town he helped build, and with the companionship of the wife of his youth he is enjoying a well-earned rest, though not in idleness for he, as a pastime, does engineering work from time to time, as work is forced upon him by persons knowing his ability and integrity. Rogue River Fruit Grower, January 1909 BITS OF EARLY DAY HISTORY IN THIS
COUNTY
J. S. Howard, First Citizen of Medford, Tells of First Building Ever Erected in This City. JACKSON COUNTY WAS ORGANIZED JANUARY 12, 1852* Was Formerly Part of Linn County--Interesting Facts of Early Days.
The secretary of the Oregon Historical Society and J. S. Howard of this
city have furnished the following very interesting items concerning the
early history of Medford and Jackson County:
The first settler in Medford was J. S. Howard, who came to the location in December 1883 and erected a building 16x30 feet on the spot where the Distillery Saloon is situated. Here he opened a store, which was to serve as a branch to the one he already owned in Jacksonville, but which burned on January 1, 1884. Mr. Howard also served as Medford's first postmaster, keeping the mail in a cigar box. He was also appointed agent for Wells-Fargo. Three weeks after the arrival of Mr. Howard in Medford Dave Miller arrived and kept boarders. Then came George Crystal, who opened a blacksmith shop. [The Oregon Sentinel of December 8, 1883 reports Crystal's blacksmith shop open for business, and Howard's store yet to open.] The town was surveyed by Mr. Howard's son, C. J. Howard, who also surveyed Phoenix, Gold Hill and Grants Pass. Mr. Howard bought the lot where the First National Bank stands [at 120 East Main] and was laughed at for buying on a "side street." It cost him $300, was afterwards sold by him for $6000 and could not be purchased today for $20,000. Mr. Howard arrived in Jacksonville in October 1860 and lived there for 23 years. He was successful in getting for the city the three public blocks on West Main Street which now furnish room for the park, water tank and west school. The first wagon road in the county was built in 1849 to facilitate travel between Oregon and California. [Wagons had been following the route--the Jackson County segment of the "Applegate Trail"--since 1846; a few had traveled it even earlier.] This followed the old Hudson's Bay Company pack trail, leading from Fort Vancouver to Yerba Buena (San Francisco), first established in the early 'thirties. Gold was found on the Rogue River in the spring of 1849 by men from the Willamette Valley, who were on the way to the placer mines on the Sacramento, but no camp was established because the party was organized to "go to California," and nothing short of that would hold the company together. The first settlement was in 1851. Three cabins were built that year--one at each of the three ferries--Long's, Evans' and Perkins'. The first white woman in the county was Mrs. Lawless, early in 1852. The first donation land claim was taken up by Judge Alonzo A. Skinner in the fall of 1851. Location, a little ways southeast of Table Rock [on the site of Central Point]. The first mining camp--that is, continuous camp--was on Jackson Creek and Rich Gulch, beginning in January 1852. The first man to put up hay in the county was David Linn in the summer of 1852. This was wild hay, of which Mr. Linn cut about 40 tons a little ways east of Jacksonville. He would have cut more, but was ridiculed by those who maintained that the hay would rot on the ground before it was used. But the winter of 1852-3 was a hard one, and Mr. Linn sold most of his hay for 25 cents a pound, and the last two tons he sold for $400. Mr. Linn built the first fanning mills in Southern Oregon--20--which he sold at $100 to $125 each. He also made the first wooden pumps, and it may be that some of them are still in use in the county. Jackson County was organized* on January 12, 1852. Prior to that date it was a part of Linn County, the boundary of which was "all of Oregon south of Marion County and east of Benton." The first wheat grown in the county was in 1853. The first grist mills were built in 1854--one by Thomas Brothers, Emery and Morris, all of Ashland. The third mill was at Phoenix, or "Gasburg," by S. M. Wait. Some say the latter name was given on account of the extraordinary conversational powers of a certain lady who dwelt there. The first sawmill was built in 1852 by A. V. Gillette. Josephine County was cut off from Jackson on January 22, 1856. The first cabin in Jacksonville was built in the spring of 1852 by W. W. Fowler. The first United States court was held on September 5, 1853, Judge Matthew P. Deady presiding. This was at Jacksonville. The first church in the county--Methodist--was organized in the fall of 1853 by Rev. T. F. Royal, who had just arrived from a trip across the plains. He organized Jackson County into school districts and was instrumental in causing the first school to be established. The first newspaper in the county was the Table Rock Sentinel, issued November 25, 1855, W. G. T'Vault, editor. Dardanelles, near the present city of Gold Hill, was the first post office in the county. A very attractive young lady, Miss Lizzie T'Vault, was the postmistress. There were more calls to see the young lady than to get mail. This young lady is now Mrs. Elizabeth Kenney, Jacksonville. General John C. Tolman piloted the first families into Jackson County direct from the plains, arriving in Rogue River Valley late in August, 1852. The first settlers near Ashland of today were R. B. Hargadine and Pease, on what was afterward known as the "Applegate place," and five days later Eben Emery, J. B. Emery, Dowd Hurley, J. A. Cardwell, A. D. Helman and A. M. Rogers settled nearby. The first house built was that of Hargadine and Pease. The second building was the sawmill built by Dowd Hurley, J. A. Cardwell and J. B. Emery, finished June 16, 1852, and named "Ashland Sawmill," after Ashland, O., the native town of Mr. Helman. Medford Daily Tribune, September 25, 1909, page 1 *Jackson County was created by the state legislature on this date, but not organized until 1853. IN SHADE OF FIFTY YEARS
J. S. Howard Admires Tree He Planted in Early Days
Forty-eight
years ago, while Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Howard were residents of
Jacksonville, Mrs. Howard planted some apple seeds in the lot upon
which their residence stood. Several of these seeds came up, and one
grew thriftily and was later grafted. The tree waxed and grew strong
and in time produced bounteous crops of delicious fruit.
Mr. Howard was in Jacksonville a few days ago, and curiosity led him to revisit his old home and see what changes had been made by the lapse of years. Many changes were apparent. Everything had grown older, including the apple tree, which had grown until the shade of its branches, loaded with fruit as of yore, covered a large portion of the lot, and the sturdy trunk which upheld the spreading top measured 51 inches in circumference. The changes that old tree has witnessed are many. It has seen Jacksonville grow from a straggling mining town into a bustling, active city, and then gradually fall back to the state of a quiet, staid county seat with only the memory of its former greatness and a few of its old citizens left to recall the glories of former days. It has witnessed the passing of many of the old pioneers, the rising of a new generation, the influx of thousands of new people and a complete change from the customs and pursuits of the early days to those of the present. Medford Mail, September 24, 1909, page 6 AN ECHO OF VILLAGE DAYS.
In another column that stalwart pioneer, J. S. Howard, attacks the Mail Tribune,
Councilman Merrick, the city administration and the proposed charter
amendments. This paper is only glad to publish the communication, as it
shows more effectively than could be otherwise shown upon what flimsy
and shallow arguments and village prejudice is based the opposition to
Mayor Canon's administration.The Mail Tribune has the highest regard and kindliest feelings for Mr. Howard, who has played an important role in Medford and Jackson County since he first surveyed the townsite on a brush-covered plain. His final administration as mayor brought to a close the village era. The water tower in the park still stands as a monument to the days when the water problem was supposed to be settled forever by bringing the water of Bear Creek through an open ditch to it, and interest is still being paid on the bond issues necessitated by water and electric light plant fiascoes of that era, and the present council's water record compares very favorably with Mr. Howard's own. It is not so long ago when Mr. Howard's hat was Medford's post office. Then a soap box replaced the hat as the new town grew. It has continued to grow ever since and at no time faster than at present. Consequently it has outgrown its present charter, which must be altered to fit the conditions, as it has outgrown the soap box post office, and the public business even of the last Howard administration cannot be compared in volume with that of today, and it is a decided economy to pay men for looking after the public business when so much money is being spent--for it is asking too much for officials to devote the necessary time and energy without compensation. Mr. Howard has a decided grouch on. He is "agin the government," but he usually is. His vigor and energy are surprising and a tribute not only to the man himself but to our wonderful climate as well, and it is too bad his abilities are wasted in efforts to block municipal progress. He should join the Commercial Club and become a booster. He is mad because Central Avenue was not paved, yet he did more to block the pavement than anyone else, and at the same time opposes councilmen who are trying to get it paved at a lower figure. The wild assertions, they can scarcely be called arguments, made against the charter amendments by Mr. Howard are answered by Mayor Canon. It can be added that amendment No. 3 enables the city to secure interest on its deposits, something it has been hitherto unable to do, the bank that furnished the treasurer's bond receiving the deposits and keeping the interest. The amendment prevents just what is now possible, "the power of a favorite bank to manipulate funds." In his argument against amendment No. 4 Mr. Howard raises a man of straw and proceeds to demolish it. The working man's home is not in danger, nor is the council given greater power than it already possesses in forcing improvements. Mr. Howard evidently sighs for the old village days, when the town was torn with factions, and a council meeting was like a gathering of the celebrated cats of Kilkenny. But those old days are outgrown and a jangled memory of the past--one with the petty squabbles of yesterday, and his arguments are like those of Rip Van Winkle come back to visit his native village to find it grown into a city. As Mr. Howard says of Mr. Merrick, so say we of Mr. Howard: "Please understand we do not criticize him as a citizen, believe he is one of our best and wish we had a lot more like him, but we believe his judgment has been at fault in some matters of public policy," and, we might add, hopelessly behind the times. Medford Mail Tribune, January 10, 1910, page 4 One of our old-time friends, J. S. Howard, his grandson Master Robert and Mr. McGowan, all of Medford, came out Tuesday in Mr. Howard's new auto, for dinner and to try the machine. He says that it is all O.K. and that he is going to bring Mrs. Howard out to see us. A. C. Howlett, "Eagle Point Eaglets," Medford Mail Tribune, June 29, 1910, page 2 WANT ROAD TO CENTRAL POINT MADE
SHORTER
To the Editor:J. S. Howard Points Out Benefit of Locating Asphalt Macadam Road In Straight Line Parallel to Southern Pacific Railroad. WOULD SAVE HALF MILE IN DISTANCE; NO ANGLES Cost for Right of Way Would Be Offset by Saving in Building Shorter Route.
A
movement was started this morning to have the proposed asphalt macadam
road to Central Point changed from its present location to parallel the
railroad track. It is pointed out that this would be a straightaway
continuation of Central Avenue and would be over a half mile shorter
than the present road, which contains several angles. If the road was
next to the railroad track it would be without a curve or an angle of
any kind and would indeed be a boulevard.
J. S. Howard is fathering the movement. In outlining plans he prepared the following statement: To the editor: The county court has contracted to expend $12,000 a mile to make an asphalt macadam road to Central Point. (Good.) Now if the county is to spend that amount, why not get the best results possible for the money? Why not extend North Central Avenue to straight through parallel with the railroad to the south end of First Street in Central Point? The following facts are in favor of the change of the road: First, the distance by the present road from East Main Street, Medford to the south end of First Street, Central Point, is 22,300 feet or 4.22 miles. The distance from East Main and Central Avenue, Medford to the south end of First Street, Central Point, by a line parallel with the railroad is 19,500 feet or approximately 3.7 miles, a difference of nearly one-half mile. Now, in good weather there are about 500 vehicles each day passing over the road to Central Point, and if the road was laid out parallel to the railroad it would mean a saving of 250 miles of travel each day and save construction and maintenance of the extra road. Second, from the north end of Central Avenue as laid out through the Ish-Gore addition to the city of Medford, to the south end of First Street, Central Point, the distance is 9800 feet or 1.86 miles. This is all the new road to be laid out, and you have only three property owners to deal with. A road sixty feet wide would take an area of 13.40 acres worth at the most $500 an acre, which would make the cost of the road $6,700 if it had to be all condemned. Now at $12,000 per mile the saving of a half mile in distance would offset the cost of condemning the new road. The above facts show that we can get a road to Central Point parallel with the railroad and as straight as an arrow, save over a half mile in distance and have one of the most magnificent drives in the valley, and the ground would be less difficult for construction. If any move is made it must be made soon before construction starts. The Commercial Club should take the matter up at once, securing the cooperation of the Central Point club. The automobile club should make a hustle. The farmers clear to the north end of the country would be benefited. J.
S. HOWARD.
Medford Mail Tribune, June
14, 1911, page 1
Howard Has More Facts. If a railroad or private corporation had the matter of such expensive improvements under advisement they would investigate every feature of the situation and would thoroughly explore every part of the country traversed to find the shortest and best route before making such permanent improvements. If one-half mile can be saved it will mean a saving of 250 miles per day, counting all the travel passing over the route, which at 5 cents per mile would cost the public $12.50 a day or $4500 per year, or 6 percent on $75,000. These things would all be considered in railway construction. Another item: Central Avenue is already paved for over one-half mile nearer than any other thoroughfare. There has never been any revision of the present county road since the early emigration passed through the valley before its settlement in 1846. The requirements of the emigrant travel were wood, water and grass, and these requirements were met by keeping as near Bear Creek as possible. Hence the location of the present county road, unchanged or over 60 years, except where the improvement of donation land claims pushed it out of its general course and made many unseemly angles. The "old mossbacks" have been severely criticized by the late, more progressive, element, so now if they are willing to practice what they preach, let them get out and hustle for modern improvements and straight and good roads. I saw the county judge last evening and he said the contract was not fully signed up as yet and that he would hold the matter in abeyance for a few days if our people wished to act. Now you progressive fellows from the effete East, get a hustle on you and show us old mossbacks what you can do. J.
S. HOWARD.
Medford Mail Tribune,
June 16, 1911, page 4J. S. Howard Writes of Water,
Editor Mail Tribune:
With your permission I would like to express myself through your
valuable paper regarding some conditions of Medford's water system. I
was much interested in the visit a few days ago of the city council and
other officials to the intake or head works at the point of diversion
on Little Butte Creek and was much surprised that they should take an
eminent M.D. who stands at the head of his profession as an allopathic
physician to make out for their prescriptions as a hydropath, which is
certainly out of his element, and I was still more surprised when he
recommended the drawing off of the waters of Fish Lake reservoir, as a
sanitary measure. Why, of all the blunders that were ever made this is
the most raw and utmost criminal move in the whole category of
mistakes. It ought to be enjoined immediately. It should be filled up
to the overflow so that all the debris floating on the surface might be
drawn off through the spillway and strained on the large weir below
before it reaches the creek again.Doctors and Rosy Cheeked Maidens It is my recollection that the reservoir was filled or partly so about two years before the Medford water system was connected at the creek and all dry loose wood or bark and fiber material was floated to the surface and has stood there or has been floated out over the spillway and all timber, stumps, logs, etc., have been soaked for three years and all gophers, reptiles and ants have long ago been eliminated and everything has now settled down to normal and sanitary conditions. Now it is known that water supply is drawn from the bottom of the lake where the water is pure and cool and that the surface of the lake is warm and warm water always rises to the top and all debris, such as leaves, sticks and fish bones and all such stuff floats on the surface, therefore the deeper the water above the more pure it is. Chicago tunneled four miles out under Lake Michigan to get into deep water for their supply. Now if you draw off the water from the lake or reservoir all this floating debris follows the receding water down to the narrow channel from the springs above, else when the water is drawn off there will be hundreds of fish stranded and dead on the low flats just above the channel, the bears will come down for the dead fish and make bear wallows in the marshes, the snakes, lizards and other reptiles will regain possession of the basin and when the reservoir is filled again the condition of our water system will be demoralized. The people for their own safety should take immediate action against drawing off the lake. The whole trouble with the impurity of the water supply lies in the headworks at the intake, and the blooming idiot who was paid for designing and installing sanitary headworks ought to face a criminal prosecution. There is no adequate settling basin or forebay. There is no sand gate at the bottom of the intake basin to discharge the sand and mud that might come down the creek, but the intake pipe runs directly into the basin and receives all the soil and sand and carries the same right on through to our system in the city and is now deposited in all the low points, bends or dead ends in our water pipes, and the whole impurity of the water exists right in the pipes in the city limits and not at the reservoir or lake. Fish Lake comprised originally an area of about 75 acres but Fish Lake reservoir has an area of 450 acres. Now if you draw off the water from 375 acres and leave it exposed to the sun and elements for sixty days and you will create a condition that will take a year to overcome and make the conditions as good as they are today. The intake or settling basin should be just what its name implies. The waters should be made as still as possible to make it. Then all sediment and sand will settle and be carried off by the sand gate instead of going into the water pipes as [it] has been doing. Our present city engineer has a clear conception of what is required, and if the city council give him their confidence he will install a good system at the intake. If the board will eliminate entirely professional men, such as doctors and lawyers, from their inspection tours and only take men of good hard common sense they will get better results. The water pipe at the intake is eighteen inches in diameter and has a velocity of about eight feet per second, making a very strong current which would draw in minor foreign matter, whereas if the mouth of the pipe at the intake were thirty-six inches, or about four times the area of the present pipe, the velocity of the current would be reduced to two feet per second, leaving never-still water in the settling basin, permitting all sand and vegetable soil to settle at the bottom and be discharged at the sand gate at the bottom. (The pipe should be thirty-six inches at the intake and taper to the size of the present pipe in twenty feet in length.) When these changes have been installed we shall have a water system second to none on the coast, Portland's Bull Run not excepted. All this installation should have been planned by that $7000 schoolmaster engineer, but this and other blunders in the installing have or will cost the city not less than $35,000. If the council listens seriously to such experts as the learned M. D. heretofore mentioned, the whole system would soon go to the dogs. I am in my 80th year and I owe my long life to the fact that there were no learned M.D.s in the county where I was raised till I was nearly of age. Microbes and bacteria were not invented at that time and we drank our water from the good old gourd that hung by the side of the old moss-covered bucket as it came from the well and we drank it without boiling and if some rosy-cheeked maiden drank from the gourd we were not afraid to drink from the same cup, even on the same side touched by her ruby lips. J. S. HOWARD.
Medford Mail Tribune, September
2, 1911, page 4Prosperity of the Rogue River Valley in Pioneer Days It has been reported and believed by many newcomers that George Putnam and the Medford Mail Tribune were the discoverers of Rogue River Valley, and they report as a most progressive and unusual event that a carload of melons have been shipped from Central Point, being the first shipment of that kind ever made from the valley. A week afterwards comes the remarkable news that a carload of wheat has been shipped from Central Point, the first shipment of the kind ever made from the valley, with editorial comments on the great and beneficial effect these first initial exports will have on the progressive and enterprising spirit of the valley. Great Scott! Man Alive! Over a half century ago, before George Putnam ever drew the breath of life, Rogue River Valley was exporting flour, bacon, wheat and barley to Yreka and mines in Northern California, to Sailor Diggings, Althouse and Galice Creek by horse team, mule team, ox team and pack team. In the early 'fifties Mr. Went, owner of the Phoenix Mill [Orson Stearns remembers his name as S. M. Waite], filled an order for flour for Yreka amounting to what now would be about a carload and started it by ox team. When they had made it to the foot of the mountain near what is now known as the Major Barron place they camped for the night; during the night they were attacked by Indians and the teamsters were killed, the flour sacks were cut open, the contents emptied on the ground, and the flour sacks were used to make swell attire for the husky warriors and dusky belles; the oxen were butchered and the choice cuts taken away and the wagons were burned. Forty-five years ago, when most of the good land in Rogue River Valley had been settled on and most of it under cultivation, there were five flour mills in the valley, viz: One at Eagle Point, the Hopwood Mill at Central Point, the Phoenix Mill, the Farmers Mill this side of Ashland and the Ashland, all making the best flour from the finest wheat ever grown on the face of the earth, and those mills were run night and day from harvest time till December, the product supplying the whole country for a hundred miles radius. Forty-five years ago the road from the valley to Fort Klamath was lined with teams every fall carrying supplies of flour, bacon, barley and oats to the military post at Fort Klamath. Forty-five years ago the woolen mills at Ashland were in operation, turning out the finest woolen fabrics on the coast. And right here I will mention for the benefit of our friends who since the advent of the railroad have come to make their homes among us and to whom we ever extend the glad hand and who come here with many erroneous impressions, I will say that fifty years ago when Rogue River Valley was fairly well settled, that Iowa was then sparsely settled, Nebraska was a trackless desert without habitation from the Missouri River west, when Minnesota was in a howling wilderness, when Dakota and Montana was a veritable "Terra Incognita" traversed by savage tribes of Indians and buffaloes. To those good people who have recently or within a few years come among us from the above states and from the Middle West under the impression that they were coming to a new and primitive country as sort of missionaries to western rubes, we will say that they themselves are the primitive ones, for forty years ago while we had mills and factories, excellent schools and churches and wearing fine clothes made from the products of Ashland woolen mills, the people of Nebraska were living in sod huts clothed in butternut breeches and coonskin caps, living on hog and hominy and burning corn for fuel, and the people of Minnesota were living in a timbered wilderness, clad in buckskin breeches and a buckskin cap and living on bear bacon, dried venison and hominy. The descendants of these worthy people are those who have lately come amongst us and some of whom think they have discovered Rogue River Valley and some (not many, I am happy to say) when they see a gray-haired pioneer with his back a little out of line from the burdens he has carried, they say see that old mossback, little knowing that under those gray hairs there is a quantity and quality of gray matter that they will never have the good fortune to possess. I have the utmost contempt of those who use the term "mossback" as applied to the old pioneers; their friendship is not worth having, but I have diverted from the original intention of this epistle. In regard to export of Rogue River Valley products, from the time the railroad came into the valley in 1884 to within the last ten years there were shipped from Medford and Central Point not less than 1500 carloads of wheat; twenty-two years ago Angle and Plymale shipped in one season 80 carloads of wheat, and there were other shippers at the same time and the mills and warehouses were full also. In the 'nineties George Jackson shipped about 35 cars of melons yearly, and Lee and Shattuck of Grants Pass shipped about the same amount. In one year alone W. H. Gore shipped from the Ish Ranch 116 carloads of produce. Twenty years ago such a thing as importing in to Rogue River Valley of flour, bacon, grain and hay was unheard of, and the balance of trade was in our favor. Within the last ten years the larger portion of the lands of the valley have passed into the hands of new men, the progressive, and they are live men and progressive, but how much better than the old set have they done? Most everything used has been imported; flour, meat, hay and grain have been imported in large quantities, and none exported, no exports except fruit. Can a good, healthy financial condition exist under these circumstances? Ten years ago Jackson County warrants were selling at 3 percent premium; today they are slow sale at 90 cents. How is this compared with the old set? In conclusion, I will say to Brother Putnam and others, study the ancient history of Jackson before you venture on any rash conclusions. Yours for a time, J. S. HOWARD. Medford Mail Tribune, September 4, 1912, page 4 J. S. HOWARD HANDS ONE TO GUS
NEWBURY
The
local legal fraternity is still chuckling over the clever manner in
which J. S. Howard, the pioneer surveyor of Jackson County and "father
of Medford," came back at Attorney Gus Newbury during the progress of a
recent trial at which Mr. Howard was a witness on the opposite site of
the case from Mr. Newbury.At several points during the progress of Mr. Howard's testimony Attorney Newbury objected long and strenuously upon the grounds that Mr. Howard's evidence was "hearsay," and therefore immaterial. Mr. Howard, who has known Gus since he was an infant, failed to flare up at the broadsides of objection and sarcasm flung at him, but bided his time. Finally Mr. Newbury was through with the witness and in order to sum up the case, said: "Mr. Howard, you will please state your name, your residence, your occupation and your age." "My name is J. S. Howard," came the answer as quick as a flash. "My residence is Medford, Oregon; my occupation is that of a civil engineer and my age--my age--is a matter of hearsay." All of which was true. Medford Mail Tribune weekly edition, September 19, 1912, page 3 "A Vote for Dunn Is a Vote
Against the County's Best Interests,"
Declares J. S. Howard
George
W. Dunn is my friend. I supported him at the primary. I have known his
family for more than two score years. I have the highest regard for
them. I would not knowingly say or do anything which would hurt the
feelings of Mr. Dunn or any member of his family. Yet I feel that I
must protect my own interests, all of which are in Jackson County. To
do this I must cast my ballot November 5th for Frank L. TouVelle for
county judge.
FIRST TRIP UPON MEDFORD TROLLEY
CAR MADE TODAYThere are a number of reasons for this stand on my part. I did not take it without due consideration of all matters involved in this election. The most vital reason for voting for Frank L. TouVelle is the difference in the characteristics and inclinations of the two men. Both are splendid gentlemen, but whereas Mr. TouVelle is a man of wide experience and broadness of mind, Mr. Dunn has had little experience in business, is provincial, knows nothing of public questions aside from a rigid economy--and this I feel is fatal to the welfare of Jackson County. To this may be added his antipathy to Medford and Medford's needs. No corporation or municipality can rightly progress or take the lead without going into debt. They prate of a $500,000 indebtedness--it is a mere bagatelle compared to the wealth of this great county. We want money spent but spent rightly, and Mr. TouVelle can best do this. The viciousness with which Mr. Dunn's friends have attacked Medford and her citizens and their source [sic] in regard to the Medford bridge, as well as the remembrance that Mr. Dunn, as county judge, was very reluctant to make repairs upon the old one, has led me to believe that a vote for Mr. Dunn is a blow at my own interests. Therefore I will cast my vote November 5th for Frank L. TouVelle, and I urge my friends to do likewise. J.
S. HOWARD.
Medford Mail Tribune, November
2, 1912, page 1
AUTO ROAD TO BE LOCATED
Jackson County to Survey Route Over Siskiyous.
MEDFORD,
Or., May 8.--(Special.)--J. S. Howard, pioneer surveyor of Jackson
County, who made the survey for the Southern Pacific in this part of
Oregon, has been named by the county court to make a survey of a new
auto road over the Siskiyous, which will eliminate the present
Dollarhide toll road and reduce the grade.
The present road has grades ranging from 30 to 30 percent, while the new road will range from 3 to 6 percent. It is believed that this improvement will increase the tourist travel into this county from California and will make Medford the headquarters for many autoists during the Crater Lake season. Morning Oregonian, Portland, May 9, 1913, page 4 J. S. Howard Makes Correction
To the Editor:
In your publication of yesterday, Sept. 1, in relation to the locating of Fort Klamath Judge Colvig says that the mile square composing the fort ground was surveyed by General W. Odell, which is a mistake, for I went with Colonel Drew when he located the fort ground and surveyed it at his request, and I have the original field notes in my office. I also surveyed a hay reserve at the same time. I also took the bearing from the flagstaff location to many prominent mountain peaks. Mt. McLoughlin bears S. 45 degrees W. (please note that it was not known as Mt. Pitt at that time). Mt. Shasta bears S. 7 degrees 30 minutes W. We went out by the old emigrant road across the mountain thence along the west side of Lower Klamath Lake to the head of "Link River," where we swam the horses, and the Indians took us across in their canoes, thence along the Indian trail east of Upper Klamath Lake to Williamson River, where we were again put across with the help of the Indians, thence along west of Wood River to Fort Creek, where the fort was located. Yours for ancient history, J. S. HOWARD.
Medford
Mail Tribune, September 4, 1913, page 4 November 30, 1913 Sunday Oregonian Road Building in Pioneer Days
By J. S. Howard
Up
to 1868, when Jackson County extended from a point west of Grants Pass
to Steens Mountain on the east, or about 300 miles long east and west
and about 100 miles average width north and south, with this vast
territory and a sparse population and a limited tax roll, about the
best that could be done in the way of roads was to survey a traverse
line so as to show the road location and place it on the map, and the
opening up and improvement of the roads was left to the district road
supervisors. About the best they could do was to brush out the road and
put in a few pole bridges and culverts.
Under these circumstances, no matter how great the skill of the surveyor or engineer, there was no opportunity for making a practical demonstration of his abilities, whatever he might have had so far as things earthly were concerned. His talents might as well have been stored with his other treasures in heaven. In 1872, when what is now Klamath and Lake counties began to settle up, and the traffic between Ashland and Klamath Falls became heavy, an imperative demand for a better road over the mountains was heard, and with small aid from the state Jackson County commissioners ordered me to make a survey of a road from Ashland to Linkville, and over such grades as the county would be able to build. In conformity with such orders I ran the road from a point seven miles south of Ashland eastward across and up Emigrant Creek and thence a grade up and across the Green Spring Mountain and down and across Keene Creek, and thence on across the Cascade Mountains to Klamath Falls. The grades were on about 10 percent, where [on] the old road the grades were 30 or 40. This was the first attempt at graded roads in Jackson County except in one instance, that of the grade from Jacksonville to the Applegate side. The road from Jacksonville west ran up Rich Gulch and Dowell Gulch and up over the hill, many places with a grade of 35 percent. So about 1868, after prolonged arguments with the county court, I obtained permission to run a grade over the Jacksonville hill. I ran the grade line in less than a day on a 10-percent grade, and the road supervisor opened it out that same season. That is the present grade over the Jacksonville hill. A grade of 6 percent could be built, but in doing so no part of the present road could be used and the expense would be great, so probably no change will be made for some time yet. About 1878 the old road over the east side of the mountains to Crescent City with its 30-percent grade had been impassable and abandoned for several years, and with little prospect of an outlet by railroad, the counties of Jackson and Josephine in Oregon, and Del Norte County in California, employed me to lay out a new route to Crescent City. I commenced at the east foot of the McGrue Mountain seven miles west of Waldo, and ran up and over the Coast Range of mountains and down to Patrick Creek, thence across Smith River and over to Crescent City, a distance of about 50 miles, with a maximum grade of 6 percent. I reduced the grade from that of the old road two-thirds and shortened the distance 18 miles. That is the present traveled road to Crescent City, and was said at the time it was built to be the best mountain road on the coast. Autos have made the trip from Crescent City to Medford the present season in seven hours, a distance of 120 miles. Fifty-three years ago I drove my ox team over the Siskiyou toll road at the end of my 2,000-mile drive from Illinois, and I found the almost impassable grades that I experienced on the trip, and when part way down from the summit I saw a man extending his glad hand, and my heart leaped with joy at such a greeting, but my exuberations were soon changed when he said $3.50 toll please, and I paid him my last dollar, leaving me 50 cents in my pocket. I said then and there that if I lived long enough I would change all those conditions, and I have never forgotten, and after waiting fifty-three years I have had my chance, for last spring I went to the county seat of Jackson County and asked them to give to C. F. Rhodes and myself the assignment to lay out a Pacific Highway across the Siskiyous, which was granted, and the order so made. In about 1880 I had run the first line for the Oregon and California Railroad from Rogue River across the mountains and over to the Klamath River near Hornbrook. In so doing I had cross-sectioned the Siskiyou Mountains thoroughly and knew the ground as a man would know his own door yard. From the information thus acquired I drew an approximate map of the Pacific Highway, and with this equipped Mr. Rhodes as county engineer in the field, and myself as consulting engineer, undertook to make the survey of the highway with a maximum grade of six percent. Mr. Rhodes finished this preliminary survey about August 1 last, when Major Bowlby, state highway engineer, took charge, running the final detailed locations. So the old adage, all things come to him who waits, came true, and my fifty-three years' waiting is about to be rewarded during the new year. On November 28, with Mr. Sam Hill as chief, we celebrated the breaking of ground for the road, a cut of which will be found elsewhere in the New Year number of this paper. Medford Mail Tribune, January 1, 1914, page E3
The
Bullis street car made its first move this afternoon and acted just
like a city car and nearly scared a country horse to death. The car ran
from the terminal to Main and Bartlett, and then backed up. A few trial
trips will be made this afternoon, and Sunday service put into effect
tomorrow.
J. S. Howard, father of Medford, sat on a box in front of the Economy Meat Market, and watched with reminiscent eyes the first trolley in Jackson County. He will ride on the first trip. "Thirty years ago I cooked beans on the spot where that car now stands," the pioneer said. "Then I little thought I would ever see a street car there." The street car is a source of great interest to the venerable pioneer. A large crowd watched the first move. Medford Mail Tribune, March 21, 1914, page 8 My Impressions of Medford's New
Street Car Line
(By J. S. Howard)
"The
world do move." The truth of this saying was most favorably presented
to my mind when I took my first ride on the modern street car of
Medford.
As we rode east on Main Street on the up-to-date splendid car across Medford's $40,000 concrete bridge over Bear Creek, where over a half century ago we crossed on a 20-foot log and entered an almost "terra incognito" region on the east side of Bear Creek. The only immediate settlement east of Bear Creek in the vicinity of what is now East Main Street was that splendid pioneer family, the Barneburgs, and for many years after Medford's first settlement, Fred Barneburg, the father of the present generation, was a familiar object on our streets, and the crowd that used to gather around him never tired of hearing him relate stories of pioneer days, and no one doubted the accuracy of his interesting stories. But to get back to earth again, when Medford was laid out 30 years ago, the only road connected with the town was what is now Riverside Avenue. As stores were opened, the people living in the country east and north of town demanded a road from their section to the city, and upon petition the county court ordered a road laid out from the east end of Main Street, which was then at Riverside Avenue, across Bear Creek, thence east along the present Main Street to Roosevelt Avenue [today's Crater Lake Avenue], then north on what is now Roosevelt Avenue to the county road at McAndrews. What is now the street car line on East Main Street was a high rail fence with willows 15 feet high in the corners. Well, after a while this fence was removed and the road opened for travel; the creek was forded in the summertime but in the winter impassable, so we passed around the hat and got money enough to buy timber for a footbridge, and the men's Greater Medford Club (unorganized), got together and built a good footbridge which stood for three winters, and the farmers on the east side of the valley would hitch their teams on the east side and walk across the footbridge and do their trading. After that a wooden bridge was constructed that was after three or four years carried away by a flood [in 1890], after which the steel bridge was built which was thought to be sufficient for all time. But as the city improved that was found inadequate, and the rest was that it was moved to Jackson Street and the present steel and concrete bridge [today's bridge] was built which is the pride of Medford and an object of envy to other parts of the county. All these things and many others were brought to mind as I took my first ride over what used to be an old pioneer trail, now a splendid paved street with shade trees, splendid residences and cozy homes on either side. If Rip Van Winkle had just awakened from a 30-years' sleep he would never know by a 1000 miles where he was. Even I, who have been here and awake all the time, have to rub my eyes to be sure that I am not asleep and dreaming what the next 30 years will bring forth in our city. To realize how [much] time it is since we were removed from the primitive, I will mention that about 15 years ago a bear came across the creek about midday and walked up Main Street, across the park and out across Oakdale Avenue and on to the foothills, with most all the men, boys and dogs in town in pursuit, but they never touched him, and he got away unharmed. J.
S. HOWARD.
Medford,
March 23, 1914.
Medford Sun, March 25, 1914, page 4 FORTY-NINE YEARS AGO HOWARD
SURVEYED LINE
It
was revealed by J. S. Howard, "father of Medford," this noon that 49
years ago today he and Tip Plymale, George Nichols and Tom Collins
surveyed a line between what is now Medford and Jacksonville. Tom
Collins and Mr. Howard met this morning and talked over old times.
George Nichols, of the Economy Market, was the youngest member of the
party, and so frisky with youthful spirits that it took the rest to
keep him in line. He was fifteen years old. Mr. Howard and Mr. Collins
were looking at the new street car when the pioneer reminiscences were
awakened.
Medford Mail Tribune, April 4, 1914, page 5 A Correction.
In yesterday's news items in the Mail
Tribune you
mentioned that an old Klamath Indian (Hitsuwawa) had greeted me as an
old-time acquaintance, so as some old-time friends have allowed
unworthy thoughts to enter their minds please state that said Indian
friend was a buck of the male persuasion. There now.
J.
S. HOWARD.
Medford Mail Tribune, October
7, 1914, page
6
Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Howard will on Monday, December 21, celebrate their sixtieth anniversary of their marriage, which took place at Toulon, Stark County, Ill. The father of Medford and wife started west in '59. "Local and Personal," Medford Mail Tribune, December 14, 1914, page 2 Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Howard of Medford celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding Tuesday. "Local News," Jacksonville Post, December 26, 1914, page 3 Christmas Reminiscence.
I had been a semi-invalid, confined to my room most of the time during
the recent bad weather, so outside my immediate family circle, I did
not anticipate the coming of Christmas with over-exuberant
anticipations, wondering if anyone hardly remembered whether I
really
was on earth or not; I had retired early to bed with these thoughts and
had dropped into a peaceful slumber when I was awakened by the most
sweet singing by about a dozen voices opposite my window. I really was
inclined to pinch myself to see if I was in the flesh or had
gone to
Heaven and was hearing the Angels singing. It really was the most
enjoyable incident during the holidays. I afterwards learned that it
was the Methodist Episcopal choir, with three cars giving me
a
Christmas cheer, and I want to give them my heartfelt thanks for their
kind remembrance. It wasthe host tonic I have had for many a day. Come again, and the compliments of the season be with each and every member is the wish of your grateful brother. J. S. HOWARD,
Medford
Mail Tribune, December 30, 1916, page 4No. 40 Crater Lake Ave., Dec. 27, 1916. HOWARD FAVORS MEDYNSKI PLAN OF
REFINANCING
To
the Editor:
There seems to be a three-cornered fight in this man's town regarding the merits of the different plans, and most everyone is trying to explain the values of the different plans, so why not I? Many of the best people of the city are ranged on either side. I might classify the three parties as the people's, the devil's and the church. Justice for the poor home builders seems to be the object of the Medynski plan. Evasion of just taxation and responsibility of my brother's keeper and the repudiation of the great brotherhood of man seems to pervade the advocates of the devil's, or Hanson plan. The Commercial Club and the Business Men's Association seem to oppose the Medynski plan--they have become so obsessed in the chase for the almighty dollar that their heads are hardened against the call for the relief of their distressed brothers. Now, here comes dear Pop Gates (everyone loves Pop Gates), but he must have got the automobilia dementia to join hands with the devil's forces. The devil must have taken him to the top of Roxy Ann and showed him the whole world and part of Jackson County and promised him the agency of the entire Ford output if he would serve him. I am supremely sorry, but could never be trusted with the steering wheel again. And my friend, Gus Newbury, who was so ill that he could only lie in one position (but I am pleased to know that he has so far recovered that he can lie easily in any position); poor, Gus, he, too, has gone wrong. The newspapers that we sustain have gone wrong, tempted by the thousands of dollars that they will get for advertising forced sales if the Hanson plan prevails. Under the present order of things, the water plant, at a cost of $5 per quarter, pays for its upkeep, and enough to pay interest on the bonds and leave a sinking fund besides. The Medynski plan leaves this undisturbed; the Hanson plan provides that all the bonded indebtedness shall be in a general bond indebtedness. The water bond debt is about one-third (this may not be quite correct, but answers by illustration); the water rates at $5 per quarter pay for all expenses connected therewith. Now, if under the Hanson plan the bond debt is covered by a general obligation bond, then the higher-ups will let the water rates be augmented enough to provide for all bond issues, so if the present rates pay one-third of the debt we will increase the rate by three and make a rate to consumers of $15 per quarter, or about $1.25 per month for a lot 50x100 feet, then that would pay all bond debt and we (Hansonites) would be exempt from taxation on bond account, and the man with $50,000 worth of property would be exempt, and the home builder with a lot 50x100 feet would pay as much as the $50,000 man with a lot the same size. And it is so easily collected--water rates are inexorable; you pay promptly or your water is shut off. What home builder or working man paying for his home on the installment plan could ever stand it? Under the present sanitary condition no family could live without the water for twenty-four hours, yet it would be pay up or your water would be shut off. This affects the man off the pavement as well as on. I implore all laboring men to protect themselves by voting "no" on the Hanson plan and "yes" on the Medynski plan. Yours
for the right,
Medford Mail Tribune, January
6, 1917, page 5J. S. HOWARD. MRS. J. S. HOWARD, PIONEER
SETTLER OF MEDFORD, DEAD
Mrs. Martha
B. Howard, wife of James S. Howard, the "father of
Medford," and pioneer engineer of Southern Oregon, and herself a
pioneer of Oregon, died Saturday, April 14, 1917, aged 86 years, 1
month and 7 days, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. E. Roberts, of
Crater Lake Avenue. She was born in London, England, March 7, 1831,
coming to America in 1850. She was married to Mr. Howard December 21,
1854, and a few years later the couple left for Oregon, crossing the
plains by ox team, arriving at Jacksonville in October, 1860, where
they engaged in the merchandise business. After a fire destroyed their
store in 1883, they moved to Medford, being the pioneer settlers, and
the first merchants.
Mrs. Howard was prominent in the social and religious life of the early days. Her home was the meeting place of all the ministers, and they always kept a spare room for their use, before there were hotels and school houses in Medford. [There were hotels and a school from Medford's beginnings.] She was the mother of six children, three of whom are living, Charles J. Howard of Kerby, Or.; Mrs. Nettie L. Webb of Hollywood, Cal., and Mrs. J. E. Roberts of Medford. The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from Perl's chapel. Interment at Jacksonville Cemetery. Medford Mail Tribune, April 14, 1917, page 6 CARD OF THANKS.
We wish to thank our friends for the kindness shown and for the many
beautiful floral offerings, during illness and death of our beloved
wife and mother.
JAMES
S. HOWARD
Medford Mail Tribune, April
17, 1917, page 6AND FAMILY. COMMUNICATION.
The mayor's proclamation, and a long list of names of those on Main
Street and adjacent thereto who have paid their paving assessments or
interest, have attracted my attention. The amount of said paid
assessments amounts to not over five percent of the paving debt. Why
not publish the names of the other 95 percent of those who for various
reasons have not paid? Every one is just as much entitled to a place on
an honor list as the former, but through adverse circumstances and a
policy of persecution from the Medford municipality have been unable to
pay. The city has persistently opposed every measure presented for the
relief of delinquent payees until, with a credit destroyed and
ambitions strangled, it proposes to confiscate and sequester this
property, and at the threshold of a hard winter proposes to set these
unfortunate citizens and their families out on the streets, a close
parallel to the atrocities
of Belgium. It reminds us of the saying that "Man's
inhumanity to man has caused countless angels to weep."There are several things not clear to my mind. The law says that a person cannot be placed in jeopardy twice for the same offense. We are taxed to pay our paving interest and then assessed directly for the same thing. Will the disciples of Blackstone please explain? What will the city do with the proceeds of this double taxation? Pay Howard Hanson $10,000 for his ill-timed advice? If the money were spent for the relief of the evicted payees it might be all right. It does not matter much to me, although the city proposes to confiscate my property on North Central Avenue near Court Street, that cost me $400, for $600 paving debt. I am immune from the effects of financial misfortune imposed by the city. I am in my 86th year and the first settler in the town of Medford, and thanks to the loyalty and affection of my daughter and her good husband I have as comfortable a home as any person in the United States, John D. Rockefeller or any other person. My every want is anticipated, and I do not have to worry about the price of commodities. According to the inexorable decrees of Father Time I expect soon to be called to that city not made by hands, whose streets are paved with gold and assessments all paid up. In this connection I wish to warn undertakers not to bury any progressive citizens of Medford with picks and shovels, as they might dig up the golden pavement. Speaking of the city officials, Mayor Gates is the most active mayor the city ever had. He is Johnny-on-the-spot on every occasion, and he enjoys issuing proclamations and the people enjoy reading them, but too frequent indulgence might result in their being considered brutum fulmen. J.
S. HOWARD.
Medford Mail Tribune, November
15, 1917, page 4While I was in Medford I met quite a number of old friends, among whom was our old friend and fellow pioneer of Jackson County, J. S. Howard, and was surprised and grieved to see him so helpless so far as his propelling power is concerned. A. C. Howlett, "Eagle Point Eaglets," Medford Mail Tribune, March 25, 1919, page 5  J. S. Howard, "Father of
Medford," Passes Away at Ripe Old Age
J.
S. Howard, founder and first
mayor
of Medford, familiarly and affectionately known as the "Father of
Medford," passed away at the Sacred Heart Hospital this morning, after
a lingering illness induced by old age. A familiar figure on the
streets of the city for a generation, with a particular fondness for
the Nash Hotel as his headquarters, Mr. Howard's death will come as a
genuine bereavement to every resident, and his cheerful counsel, kindly
face and poignant humor will be sadly missed by young and old.
Mr. Howard was born in Mason, New Hampshire, April 21, 1832. He was married to Martha B. Snuggs Dec. 21, 1855. He was 87 years old at the time of his death. Three children are living, Charles J. Howard of Kerby, Oregon; Nettie L. Webb, Hollywood, Calif.; Martha C. Roberts, Medford, Oregon. He also leaves one brother, Henry Howard of Elk Creek, Neb., and three sisters, Mary Braly of Glendale, Calif.; Harriet Squires of Los Angeles, Cal.; Martha C. Wells of Minneapolis, Minn. After graduating from the high school of Kewanee, Ill., he attended an academy at the corner of Clark and Washington streets, Chicago, Ill., and at the age of 24 he embarked upon an independent career as a furniture dealer in Kewanee, Ill. In 1860 Mr. Howard started with his wife and three children for Pike's Peak, Colo., but on the way changed his mind and came to Oregon instead. His equipment consisted of ox teams and wagons, and his route lay via the Platte River, Salt Lake and the Humboldt to Jacksonville, at which town he arrived with 50 cents in his pocket. About this time the rains had begun to fall, and the prospect was a dismal one, especially after the 50 cents had been spent for supper. Fortunately the cattle were in good condition, thus ensuring food for some time to come. Mr. Howard found work as a carpenter, but for some time had little opportunity to use the surveying instruments upon which hung the success of the future, and which already constituted one of his prized possessions. As the country began to settle chances came his way, and in time he devoted his entire energy to surveying and engineering, his star of success ascending continually and with splendid results. He served for many years as special agent for examining surveys of the U.S. Land Office, operating in Oregon and Arizona. He surveyed nearly all the mining claims of Southern Oregon. Notwithstanding his great and absorbing undertakings as a civil engineer, Mr. Howard ran the first general merchandise store in Medford, assisted by his family. He was one of the first residents of Medford, was first mayor, also first postmaster and first Wells Fargo Express agent. [A. L. Johnson opened the Wells Fargo agency in March 1884; Howard succeeded him in May.] He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, having joined Lodge No. 10 at Jacksonville in 1872, eventually becoming a member of the Blue Lodge No. 103 of Medford. He was a member of the Methodist Church. His trained and accurate mind had foreseen advantages for his adopted community, and his zeal and public-spirited enterprise have inspired others to assist in carrying out these same designs. He had the faculty of disseminating enthusiasm and inspiring others to do their best. A student always, he kept abreast of the times, not only as regards engineering, but in connection with affairs which engage the attention of bright minds in many departments of activity. Funeral services will be held at Perl's chapel, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 15, 1919, Rev. Gilbert officiating. Services at grave, conducted by Masons. Medford Mail Tribune, November 13, 1919, page 4 Thrills of Early Days Experienced
by "Father of Medford" Revealed
Interesting experiences of J. S. Howard, first mayor,
and known as the "Father of Medford," are revealed in a story written
by him and recently discovered among some old papers by his daughter,
Mrs. J. E. Roberts. Mr. Howard surveyed and laid out Medford and saw
the transition of the valley from a gold miners' rendezvous to the
present fertile and productive region of farms and orchards. [Medford was surveyed by
Howard's son, Charles J. Howard.]Sterling, in Jackson County, in 1861, was a great mining camp attracting throngs of gold hunters from every direction. The first great rush had passed, and the motley population of Sterling had settled down to the business of getting "dust" by improved processes, but spending it the same old way. It took days for the echo of the first shot on Fort Sumter to reach Jacksonville, but the thrill that set the town aquiver was nonetheless pronounced. Excitement Ran High
The patriots of Sterling forgot their lust for gold for the moment and
engaged, pro and con, in the controversies that ensued. Among the
somewhat noted characters of the town were Jim O'Meara,
editor of the Jacksonville Times,
and Henry Dellenger, editor of the Sentinel,
the latter being the union paper, while O'Meara's was a Copperhead.
Jim and Henry fell into disputation over the big quarrel in the North
and South. Dellenger had scored a severe point or two over O'Meara,
when the latter, quick to resent what he regarded as an insult to his
dignity, ripped out a six-shooter and attempted to get the drop on his
business opponent and political rival. Dellenger quickly seized the gun
and wrenched it from O'Meara's hands. O'Meara turned to run, when
Dellenger leveled the weapon at O'Meara's back pants pocket and fired,
the ball passing through an old bandanna and into O'Meara's "nether
extremity." O'Meara kept on running until he was out of gunshot, when
he stopped long enough to have the wound dressed, and then went into
retirement until the excitement over his first skirmish had subsided.
No arrests were made and afterwards O'Meara became a good Republican.
Evidently that shot went home.Secession Flag in Sight
[James] T. Glenn conducted a store in Jacksonville at that time. His
clerk was a Copperhead. When news of the war was confirmed, the clerk
ran up a flag of secession over his employer's store. Again excitement
reached fever heat, as the report quickly reached the miners in the
hills. Soon, however, miners in their rough garb and with grim visages
came rushing down from every canyon and claim until about 800 of them
had reached the town, intent upon making short work of the rebel
bunting, when suddenly the flag of the secessionists disappeared.But those were interesting days. Mining claims on Jackson Creek had been reduced in size to 50 yards in length along the stream on each side and up the hill as far as pay dirt was found. They had all been fairly well worked out by the whites, but Chinamen had come to work them over. One of these claims was mine. I had taken it for the timber on it. A Chinaman's Luck
A Chinaman came along and offered me $50 for the privilege of working
it over. I was a timberman.. He was a miner. I took the money. A few
days later the Chinaman came down with a chunk of gold eight inches
long and two wide. It weighed $800.About where the Opp mine is a white miner forked out another nugget that weighed $1200. In those days, however, good law prevailed. There was no pettifogging in court. Facts were ascertained with gruff celerity and the verdict reached without "taking the case under advisement." Miners had no patience with such delays. They always regarded this "advise mart" business as a little bit shady. Abrupt and swift justice was the chief desideratum among them. Quick Settlements
Sometimes
cases that involved
human passion alone never got into court. Personal settlement was
generally quick and final.Finally, however, a governor of the camp seemed necessary. He should be clothed with plenary authority, and, as adjudicator, his decisions were judicial. U. S. Hayden was elected to be the first alcalde. That was in 1853; and he continued until a justice of the peace was chosen under the territorial laws. During that regime it was noted that claim jumping came soon to be an unpopular misdemeanor. The miners met and placed the evidence before the alcalde with blunt positiveness. If the claim juniper was found guilty he was given so many days to disappear with a warning to make his departure final. The decision was never questioned. Attorneys were there, but their practice was limited to a plain presentation of each side of the case. First Gold in 1853
Rich Gulch, a branch of Jackson Creek, now known as Daisy Creek,
yielded the first gold discovered in Southern Oregon in 1853, by Jim
Pool and James
Clugage. [Rich
Gulch was discovered
the winter of 1851-52.] Soon the word went out that they had found a new Eldorado. Miners flocked in from California. Provisions became scarce. Salt became a luxury. An ounce of gold was placed in one end of the old fashioned balance scales, and an ounce of salt in the other. They were of equal value. Flour was a dollar a [pound]. Nothing less than a two-bit piece was considered money. Clugage afterwards located a donation claim where Jacksonville now stands. An Odd Character
Many of the odd characters are found in all mining caps and Mickey
Brannon, an Irish tailor, was one of them in that camp. He shipped in a
barrel of 'whiskey. Having no desire to abandon his tailor business he
set the barrel of booze up in his shop and dished it out at a dollar a
drink. It lasted until the water supply froze up, but Mickey made a
fortune out of it. One day two miners fell to shooting at each other in
Mickey's shop. While hot lead splattered on the walls, Mickey jumped
out through a window. That incident closed Mickey's saloon business.From 1852 to 1865 more than two million dollars' worth of gold dust was taken out of the creek beds in the vicinity of Sterling and Jacksonville. Medford Mail Tribune, January 17, 1932, page 9 MRS. NETTIE WEBB, PIONEER OF
AREA, CALLED BY DEATH
Another pioneer of Jackson County, Mrs. Nettie
L Howard Webb, wife of B. S. Webb, of 1466 North Mansfield
Avenue, Hollywood, Cal., died at her home Monday evening, August 8,
1932, of heart disease. She was born in Kewanee, Ill., December 3,
1859, [omission]
days of age at the time of her death.
She crossed the plains by ox team with her parents, J. S. and M. B. Howard, and two brothers in 1860, and arrived in Jacksonville in October of the same year. She grew to womanhood in Jacksonville, where she lived until 1884, when the family moved to the new town of Medford. She was well known to the older pioneers of the valley. November 10, 1886, she was married to B. S. Webb of Medford, later moving to Hollywood, Cal. She was an early member of the Christian church of Medford, her husband being a charter member. After going to Hollywood she became a member of the Christian church there, and was active in the church work until her health failed her in recent years. Funeral services were held in Hollywood with interment there. Surviving her are the husband, B. S. Webb; three children--George Webb, of San Diego, Cal.; Dr. Edith Ford and Dr. Ora Elerath of Hollywood; one brother, Charles J. Howard of Kerby, Ore.; one sister, Mrs. J. E. Roberts of 40 Crater Lake Avenue, Medford; also five grandchildren. Medford Mail Tribune, August 11, 1932, page 2 MEADER HOUSE BUILT IN 1889
The
old Hiram Meader home on North Central, one of the last of the old
residences in the downtown section of Medford, is being torn down this
week, and with it goes one of the few remaining remnants of Medford's
early days.
The house was built 48 years ago by J. S. Howard, known as the "Father of Medford." Howard "laid out" Medford when the railroad was coming through in 1883 [Medford was surveyed by Howard's son, Charles J. Howard], according to Mrs. Clara Barkdull, who lived across the street at the time [her house--and Medford--didn't exist at the time] in a house on the same property where the Barkdull building now stands. "We came here in February, 1884, Mrs. Barkdull said, "and Medford was quite a young city then. There was a grocery store on Sixth Street where the Diamond Cafe was [127 East Sixth], and Ike Webb lived where the Band Box is now [223-227 East Sixth]. Geo. Haskins, father of Leon, had a house over on Bartlett, and D. T. Lawton's father built where the Groceteria is now. Mrs. Lawton and Mrs. Haskins started a millinery shop there. "Noah Lyon built where the service station is now [southwest corner Fifth and Central], across from the city hall, and John Theiss lived where the Elks Club has its temple. The church was built about 53 years ago, as I remember." Mrs. Barkdull said that Meader bought the house from Howard a long time ago. Medford News, June 4, 1937, page 1 CHARLES HOWARD, PIONEER, PASSES
Charles James Howard, 86, Oregon pioneer and resident of Southern
Oregon for many years, passed away at the home of his son, James E.
Howard, in Cottage Grove, Monday, it was learned here today.Howard's father, James S. Howard, a surveyor, was first mayor of Medford and was known as the father of this city. The deceased, born in Kewanee, Ill., September 17, 1855, and came to Jacksonville with his parents in October, 1860, after a six months' journey across the plains by covered wagon. Howard resided in Medford for several years, then moved to Josephine County and was rural mail carrier at Kerby, where he has many relatives. Upon retiring he moved to Cottage Grove to be near his sons. He was a Mason and an Oddfellow. Howard leaves one daughter, Daisy Gilmore of Eureka, Calif.; two sons, James E. Howard of Cottage Grove and Glen Howard of Dallas; one sister, Martha C. Roberts, 40 Crater Lake Avenue; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren also survive. Funeral services and burial will be held at Kerby tomorrow at 2 p.m., with the interment in the family plot. Medford Mail Tribune, April 15, 1942, page 8 Last revised September 16, 2024
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