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The Infamous Black Bird Southern Oregon History, Revised


Medford Pioneers: Henry Klippel

Henry Klippel 1889
    SHOOTING AFFRAY.--A person recently arrived from Jacksonville, Oregon, informs the Siskiyou Chronicle that a shooting match came off in that place, Dec. 26th, between a man by the name of Rhodes, Johnny McLaughlin and John Hillman, which resulted, as usual, in shooting an outsider, Henry Klippel, through the thigh, making a severe, though not dangerous, flesh wound, while all three of the combatants escaped unharmed. Rhodes, who it is said made the first hostile demonstration, was arrested by the Sheriff, and in default of bail, lodged in jail to await a trial at the next term of the Circuit Court for that place.
Sacramento Daily Union, January 9, 1858, page 1


    SHOOTING AFFAIR AT JACKSONVILLE.--A rencounter took place at Jacksonville (O.T.) on the 25th of Dec., between John McLaughlin and one Rhodes, in which some dozen shots were fired, without injury to anyone except a bystander, Henry Klippel, who accidentally received a severe wound near the knee. He was trying to prevent the parties from firing at the time. The principals in the affair were arrested, and had an examination before Justice Arundell. McLaughlin was discharged. Rhodes was held to bail in the sum of $1,000 for his appearance at the next term of the District Court, to answer a charge of assault with intent to kill. Klippel, we learn, is recovering.
Sacramento Daily Union, January 15, 1858, page 2


    TROUBLE WITH THE INDIANS IN OREGON.--A few days since, we published by telegraph the news of the massacre of five men by the Indians, near Klamath Lake. A correspondent of the Siskiyou Chronicle writing from Jacksonville on May 9th says that the company which started in pursuit of the Indians was commanded by John Hillman and Henry Klippel, the former captain, and the latter lieutenant. He also says:
    News has just reached town that a small party of Indians were seen this morning on Rogue River, dancing the war dance. The person who saw them approached within about two hundred yards of them, when becoming a little suspicious of their movements, he halted. The Indians asked him to come over, at the same time some of them showing their guns and using vulgar expressions in regard to the white race generally. He, not caring to comply with their invitation to come to their camp, turned and proceeded immediately to this place and reported the above.
Daily National Democrat, Marysville, California, May 21, 1859, page 2


MARRIED.
    On Tuesday, January 24th, at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. M. A. Williams, Mr. HENRY KLIPPEL to Miss ELIZABETH ANNE BIGHAM, both of Jacksonville.
    We acknowledge the receipt of bridal favors, and wish the young and happy pair a long life of uninterrupted contentment.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, January 28, 1860, page 3


BIRTHS.
    In Jacksonville, Sunday, Nov. 11th, the wife of Mr. HENRY KLIPPEL, of a son.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, November 24, 1860, page 2


Born.
    In Jacksonville, on the 15th inst., to the wife of HENRY KLIPPEL, a daughter.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, October 17, 1863, page 2


NOTICE--I hereby give notice that I have authorized Mr. John McLaughlin to act as my agent in general business, during my absence.
HENRY KLIPPEL.
Jacksonville, Feb. 27, 1874.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, March 19, 1864, page 2


    RETURNED.--Mr. Henry Klippel returned from the Boise mines on last evening's stage, in good health and spirits.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 20, 1864, page 3


    CHANGED HANDS.--Our friend, Jas. Cardwell, has bought Mr. Klippel's interest in the "Pool and Klippel" ranch adjoining town. The price paid was $5,000--gold coin. We are glad to learn that so valuable a citizen as Mr. Cardwell is to stay among us, as he was just ready to start for California.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 2, 1868, page 3



    NEW FIRM.--We learn that Messrs. Wm. Hoffman and Henry Klippel have made arrangements to open a first-class tin and stove establishment in Jacksonville immediately. Mr. Klippel is a practical tinner, and as both gentlemen have many warm friends, they will probably be successful.

Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 2, 1868, page 3


    RETURNED.--Messrs. Beekman and Klippel returned on Saturday last from San Francisco. Beek came back cheering for Grant and Colfax, and feeling proud of a fine school bell that he purchased below, and now on the way here. Henry brought his pockets full of the bills of a large stock of tin and hardware, soon to arrive for the new firm; and both gentlemen seemed glad to get home again to the little town in the "nook" of the mountains.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, May 30, 1868, page 3


    NEW STOCK.--We stepped into the new store of Messrs. Hoffman & Klippel this week and found them opening a new and splendid stock of stoves and hardware. They have all the appliances for tin and sheet-iron working, and are prepared to furnish anything in their line at greatly reduced rates. Call and see them under the Odd Fellows' hall.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, June 20, 1868, page 3


BORN.
KLIPPEL.--On March 1st, to the wife of Henry Klippel, a son.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, March 20, 1869, page 2


    BADLY DAMAGED.--We are informed by Mr. Henry Klippel that a large amount of goods for Jacksonville were damaged by the late accident to the Pacific. Glenn, Hoffman & Klippel, John Miller, Mrs. Levy and Wm. Boyer, of Jacksonville, and Messrs. Sturgis and Kubli of Applegate are among the losers. It appears that the steamer was running in a fog and struck a rock, making about thirty inches of water. Insurance does not cover partial damage in such cases; so the parties above named are "out and injured."
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 18, 1869, page 3


    FULL STORE.--Hoffman & Klippel, under the Odd Fellows Hall, have the fullest and most complete assortment of goods in their line. They have any amount of tin, stove, and copperware, and a good supply of the submerged pumps that are now used so extensively here.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, October 2, 1869, page 3


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


    PERSONAL.--On Monday night last, Henry Klippel, Esq., the courteous and efficient sheriff of this county, started for a brief visit to the East for the first time in twenty years, with the hope of benefiting his health, which has been bad for some time past. We wish our friend a safe journey to the home of his youth, a happy meeting with his relatives, from whom he has been absent so long, and a speedy return, in restored health and vigor, to the many warm and true friends he leaves here.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 15, 1871, page 3


A CARD.
    "Has Klippel not been looked upon for the last ten years as a petty thief?" --Democratic Review.
    I deprecate as much as any man possibly can the idea of thrusting my personal quarrels upon the attention of the public, but the attack made in the lines quoted above must not pass unanswered. I  have lived in this county from my boyhood--almost for the last twenty years--and my whole personal and political record is well known to the people of this county. If this man Turner, the vile file-thief and forger, who edits the Review, were the only man interested in this slander, I should allow the attack to pass unnoticed. He has been proven to be a vile wretch, beneath any honest man's contempt.
    D. Linn, Wm. Jackson and J. W. Crutcher, the publishers of the Review, pretend, however, to have some standing in this community, and it is to them I direct my attention. When these men suffered this attack [to be] published in their paper, they knew they were publishing a willful and deliberate lie, and I brand them as contemptible liars, slanderers and scoundrels, unfit to hold companionship with decent men.
    On election day, this man Linn, with his fitting companion Turner, forged a document for circulation, knowing that they thereby not only circulated a lie in reference to myself, but committed a forgery in order to do so; they have now perpetrated a base lie in addition to that, in reference to my personal character. And now I would inquire who this man Linn is? It has been but a few years since this same infamous liar who assumes to be a censor of the morals of this town was so infatuated with a common courtesan that she was accustomed to visit his place of business in the daytime, and he had not the moral courage to keep her away, although the late John S. Love and myself remonstrated with the lowdown dog, in order to induce him to drive her off for his own sake. This contemptible slanderer who, through the pen of Turner, libels citizens in his dirty sheet as petty thieves, was charged by his former partner, Burpee, with robbing him, and the charge has never been cleared up. One thing is certainly well known by everybody--David Linn never had a partner who did not leave the firm broke.
    Now as to the man Jackson. He is about as sweet a duck to discuss the morals of his neighbors as is his friend Turner. Some four years ago he was a schoolteacher in Eola, Polk County. He boarded at the house of a man named Beckett, who had a daughter--Mary--fifteen years old attending his school. This moral youth, while a guest of her father, seduced his pupil, a young inexperienced schoolgirl, and on discovering that the crime would soon be apparent, fled to Portland, and on the advice of his brother got a lot of dentist tools and started for Southern Oregon. The illicit offspring of this seduction is now about four years old.
    As to Crutcher, I have nothing to say. He is the cipher in the concern, representing, probably, some richer and better-known man, who is too cowardly to allow his name to appear in the columns of the paper.
    Again I express my regret to the public that I am compelled to allude to these men in this manner, but through the petty thief, Turner--a man charged by James B. Requa with the contemptible offense of stealing hand-saw files--they have made the Review a vehicle for the foulest and most infamous slanders and filthiest abuse against every man who differs from them in political opinion. I have simply exposed some of the vices of which they have been guilty, while branding them again as malicious, contemptible and dirty liars and scoundrels.
HENRY KLIPPEL.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, June 15, 1872, page 2


    DISSOLUTION OF CO-PARTNERSHIP.--The firm heretofore doing business under the firm name of Hoffman & Klippel has been dissolved by mutual consent. See notice elsewhere.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 19, 1873, page 4


    FOR SAN FRANCISCO.--Hon. Henry Klippel left for San Francisco this week to purchase a mill for the quartz mine of Klippel, Beekman & Johnson, on Rogue River. This ledge promises well. We are pleased to see that the gentlemen interested repose enough confidence in it to venture buying a mill, and trust their energy and enterprise will be amply repaid.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 18, 1874, page 3


    RESIGNED.--Hon. Henry Klippel has resigned his position as State Capitol Commissioner, and will devote his time to the development of the quartz mine he is interested in together with Messrs. Beekman and Johnson. The Governor has appointed Hon. E. L. Bristow to fill the vacancy, which is an excellent selection.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 25, 1874, page 3


    RETURNED.--Hon. Henry Klippel has returned from San Francisco, where he has purchased a fifteen-horsepower steam engine for the quartz ledge of Klippel, Beekman & Johnson, on Rogue River. The engine has been shipped already, and will arrive shortly, when operations will commence in earnest.
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 25, 1874, page 3


    Hon. Henry Klippel left for San Francisco last week to purchase a mill for the quartz mine of Klippel, Beekman & Johnson, on Rogue River. This ledge promises well.
"State News," Willamette Farmer, Salem, December 25, 1874, page 1


    The new machinery to be used in crushing quartz from the mine of Beekman & Co., near the mouth of Applegate, Jackson County, was placed on the ground on last Sunday week, by Jos. Beggs, who took it up from Roseburg, without a break or accident of any kind. Jim Hurd is superintending the setting up of the engine, which is pronounced a gem of its kind, and it is thought crushing will begin with a month. It is a portable engine of 15 horsepower, and the company--Beekman, Klippel and Johnson--have two 12-foot arrastras, intending to crush the ore with stamps to feed them, which they calculate will enable them to reduce at least three tons per day. They have now something more than 100 tons of ore on the dump, which it is calculated will yield fully $25 per ton. They have tested some of it in a mill and realize as high as $40 per ton. The gold is of very fine quality.

"Oregon," Oregonian, Portland, January 19, 1875, page 1



    The "Elizabeth" mill (Beekman & Co.) started up on Monday last. Everything worked to a charm, and they will make their first cleanup in about a month.
"Southern Oregon Mines," Oregonian, Portland, February 23, 1875, page 1


    The quartz mill of Klippel, Beekman & Johnson, on their ledges on Rogue River, is now in working order and running constantly. Mr. Klippel, who arrived at Jacksonville from the ledge, informs the Times that they have 125 tons of quartz taken out already and that the mill is pounding it up at the rate of three tons per day.
"Oregon News," Sacramento Daily Record-Union, March 2, 1875, page 1


    CLEANUP.--Messrs. Henry Klippel and C. C. Beekman this week returned from a visit to the Elizabeth quartz ledge, having witnessed the first cleanup of the new mill lately put up there. Ninety-three tons of quartz have been crushed, which averaged over $15 per ton. This is a good yield, considering that considerable of the quartz was bedrock and the difficulty experienced in getting the machinery in working order owing to the cold. The company feel encouraged enough to keep ten men constantly employed, and are sanguine of the ledge paying even better than this. The main ledge has not been discovered as yet.
Oregon City Enterprise, April 16, 1875, page 3


    Mr. Adam Klippel left on Tuesday for Morrison, Gasconade County, Mo., where he is to meet his brother, Henry Klippel, of Jacksonville, Oregon, who was one of the Tilden electors from that state, and who has been to Washington for the purpose of testifying before the congressional investigating committee. He telegraphed Adam to meet him at Morrison, where their sister resides. After spending a few days there, they will come to this city, and Adam and all his Republican friends will besiege the unregenerate Tildenite and endeavor to convert him from the error of his Democratic ways.
"Town and Country," Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, January 26, 1877, page 3


HON. HENRY KLIPPEL.
Interesting Interview with One of Tilden's Oregon Electors.
His Ideas on the Situation--Likewise on Cronin's Nose.

    Hon. Henry Klippel of Jacksonville, Oregon, who was one of the candidates on the Democratic ticket for Presidential elector at the recent election, arrived in this city on Thursday evening of last week and remained until Sunday morning, visiting his brother, Adam Klippel. He was on his return from Washington, where he bad been for the purpose of testifying in regard to the Oregon complication before the Congressional investigating committee.
    Hearing of his arrival in this city, a Sentinel representative lost no time in forming his acquaintance and, as soon as the formality of an introduction was over, proceeded, true to his bohemian instincts, to interview him for the benefit of our dear ten thousand readers.
    Mr. Klippel is a spare built, compactly framed gentleman, about five feet eight inches high, with kindly brown eyes and a very winning expression about the mouth when he smiles, which is frequently. He looks older than his brother Adam, though he is really nearly six years younger.
    After cordially shaking hands with Mr. Klippel and accepting from him a fragrant Havana, our reporter expressed his gratification at Mr. K.'s happy fate--after seventeen days as a witness before the investigating committee--in escaping both the invective of Morton and the pencil of Nast.
    Mr. K. (laughing pleasantly)--I had only a plain, unvarnished tale to tell. I was on the witness stand an entire day and was cross-examined at length by Senator Morton, but the examination was entirely pleasant in its character.
    Reporter.--Then you did not form an unfavorable opinion of Senator Morton?
    Mr. K.--Oh, no; I admire Mr. Morton very much. He is a man of magnificent intellect--full of pluck and vim. I wish the Democratic Party had a few men like him.
    R.--What of Senator Conkling?
    K.--I was present when he made his great speech on the Compromise bill and think it exceeded anything I ever heard. He is by no means the dandy he is represented, but is a great statesman and a natural orator. He cannot help his good looks.
    R.--And Grant?
    K.--I went to Washington greatly prejudiced against General Grant, but my opinions have undergone a  radical change. I think he will go out of office carrying with him the universal respect of the better men of the nation, irrespective of party. He is far from being the unscrupulous partisan I had supposed. His message accompanying his approval of the Compromise bill was an admirable document, stamping him a patriot capable of rising above partisan demands.
    R.--I presume you have noticed from the papers that he intends in a few days to send a message to Congress recommending immediate specie resumption?
    K.--Yes; and this causes me to have a still higher opinion of him. It is astonishing that there are still in the country some greenback lunatics. We are at the door of specie resumption and it has come about by natural means. Better times for the whole country are at hand. As you know, we have very little paper money in my state, and as a consequence everything has a settled value. It is the want of this that makes times so hard in the East.
    R.--What is your opinion of the Compromise Bill?
    K.--I was opposed to it at first, but the more I see of its workings the more I am reconciled to it. It will undoubtedly give peace to the country, and I doubt very much whether the present difficulties could have been peaceably settled in any other way. The country was, one month ago, in greater peril than the masses of the people had any idea of.
    R.--About that Oregon business: do you honestly think your party has any right to claim the state?
    K.--Well, I concede that the Republicans fairly carried the state; but your party stole Louisiana from us after we had fairly carried it, and I believe we are justified in fighting the devil with fire.
    R.--You concede, then, the Democratic claim to Oregon is based upon a mere technicality?
    K.--Oh, certainly. No one can claim otherwise. We should never have seriously raised any point about it, had not your side commenced the same kind of business.
    R.--Are you acquainted with Watts, the Republican elector ousted by Gov. Grover?
    K.--Quite well. I do not think he had any idea of being elected, and, although he knew himself ineligible, he would not resign his office of postmaster--thinking it better to hold on to a sure thing.
    R.--What about [E. A.] Cronin's nose?
    K. (Smiling).--It has a healthy color and a remarkably healthy size, though it is not as bad as represented by Nast. Still it would attract attention in any crowd.
    R.--I presume you have had a pleasant trip east ?
    K.--Oh, yes; I availed myself of the opportunity to make some long-deferred visits to my relatives, and, of course, enjoyed myself. But it is a strange fact that the strongest, most uncompromising Republicans I have met are my own relatives. I am the only white sheep in the flock.
    R.--You will doubtless be glad to get back to your home again?
    K.--Indeed, I will. I am heartily tired of politics, and do not intend to again mix up in such contentions as have engrossed my mind for the past six months. My home is in a pleasant little valley at the foot of the snow-capped Sierras, one hundred miles from any railroad or navigable river, and  there,
"Far from the madding world's ignoble strifes,"
I will devote myself in future to the more quiet and less exciting avocations of life.
    At this point other visitors presented themselves and the interview closed.
    Mr. Klippel left for the Pacific Slope on Sunday morning.

Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, February 9, 1877, page 3  See here for more on the Oregon's role in the contested 1876 Presidential election.


BON VOYAGE!
Pleasant "Goodbyes" to Richard Klippel and William Hoffman.
AT MR. ADAM KLIPPEL'S.
    Saturday might last the residence of Mr. Adam Klippel was the scene of a very pleasant impromptu serenade and sociable given in honor of Richard H. Klippel, one of the compositors of the Sentinel printing office, whose departure for the state of Oregon, via San Francisco, with his uncle Henry, had been set to take place on the four o'clock train the following morning. An amateur string band, composed of Messrs. J. A. Beaumont, Jno. Philbrick and Willie Zook, appeared in front of the house and after discoursing several very beautiful pieces the members were invited into the house, where the exercises were continued until a few hours before train time.
    The string band being "reinforced" by Mr. Klippel's large organ, with Richard as organist, the parting moments passed rapidly by amid the sound of charming music. Besides the members of the string band above given, there were present Messrs. Leigh H. Irvine, W. R. Hershberger, Wm. Rostock, Tom Curry, Wm. Brodbeck, D. W. Bryan, Joseph Jackson, George Schatz, W. B. Payne and Tom Crooks. Also, the Misses Emma Carry and Martha Snider.
    At the hour of twelve the music was brought to a close, whereupon Mr. Hershberger brought forth a package enclosing a present, consisting of a centennial clothes brush, the visiting cards of many of the young men of the city and a box of cigars for Richard from his comrades and former schoolmates, at the same time calling upon Mr. Irvine to make the presentation speech, which the latter did in a very masterly and felicitous manner. The address, which was couched in the choicest language, breathed the spirit of friendship and embodied the most ardent good wishes for Richard's future success, and his and his uncle's safe journey across the continent--in all of which the Sentinel heartily joins.
Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, February 9, 1877, page 3


    Richard Klippel, who left here on the morning of the 4th instant, accompanied by his uncle Henry Klippel, writes that they arrived safely at Jacksonville, Oregon, on the morning of the 11th, after a prosperous journey of only one week, including two days and two nights of staging.
Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, February 23, 1877, page 3


    The Ashland (Oregon) Tidings of February 24th contains the following paragraph: "Ed. Crandall, who held the position of foreman on the Tidings for the past five months, has gone to Salem where he will engage in the job printing business. Mr. R. H. Klippel, nephew of Hon. Henry Klippel, lately from the East, is engaged in Mr. Crandall's stead."
"Town and Country," Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, March 9, 1877, page 3


SISKIYOU CINNABAR.
JACKSONVILLE, Aug. 20, 1877.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE OREGONIAN:
    Anyone who will travel forty miles southwest from Jacksonville in the summer season can find the original Garden of Eden and the spring which Ponce de Leon sought for so long a time, and which has the power to restore youth and vigor. This Garden of Eden is situated four or five thousand feet above the level of the sea in the Siskiyou Mountains at the cinnabar mine on Beaver Creek, and resembles the other one of old in the salubrity of its climate, the beauty of its scenery and the luxuriance of its vegetation. Whether it is an improvement on the original garden or not depends upon the temperament of the visitor. It has the serpent (with nine or ten rattles), but the Eve and the apple and the fig leaf are wanting. The reason why you must go in summer is because if you wait until winter you will have to walk on snowshoes. There is a trail leading to the mine from Jacksonville up Little Applegate Creek a few miles, then on by Little Beaver and on up by Squaw Creek, and still "Excelsior" by Chappel's spring and the Silver Fork (you see what camp furniture we have in the mountains) of Elliott's Creek to a low gap in the Siskiyous, from which Elliott Creek runs north into Oregon and Beaver Creek runs south into California, and from which you can see far down south and gaze upon Mt. Shasta from base to summit. You descend three miles and amidst gigantic sugar pines and tamarack and grass belly deep to your animal and you are on the enchanted ground.
    The cinnabar deposit is on a point running down from the "divide" spoken of above, and is between the Lick fork and the west fork of Beaver Creek. From underneath this hill or mountain, and on the side of the Lick fork bubble out the most delightful springs of soda and iron, two of soda at a distance of a mile or so apart, and one of iron. There is still another spring not quite so delightful, being strongly impregnated with sulfur, and going to show that the opposition establishment to our paradise may not be far off. It is impossible to imagine or describe the delights of drinking from these soda springs. The water bubbles continually, and it is just sufficiently pungent to make it pleasant, and it is so light that one can drink almost any quantity of it. Indeed, in drinking it "the appetite seems to grow by what it feeds upon." I was informed by an old hunter who camps in the neighborhood every summer that the deer come from a distance of twenty-five or thirty miles to drink this water, and any morning between daylight and sunrise you can see, by secreting yourself near the soda lick, from twenty to forty or fifty deer absolutely guzzling the nectar. They will wade the creek without drinking to get at it, and they drink till their little stomachs are swelled out like frogs. The tastes of your humble contributor may not be known, but I am fond of champagne in a goblet, and yet I would rather at any time have a quart or two of this soda water than a tumbler of Charles Heidsieck or Veuve Clicquot with ice. Whilst exploring for springs one was found which was nearly dry, not containing more than a cup full of water. Then it was that one of those wretches who infest society, an old joker, a sort of intellectual Bashi-bazouk, unimpressed by the grandeur that was about him, sillily and in bland accents remarks that he had often heard "that one swallow did not make a spring, but there was a case where one swallow would destroy a spring." The mountain men of the party looked at the perpetrator as if he had let his rifle go off by accident, and they moved on in contemptuous silence.
    The iron spring not at all unpalatable, and one can almost feel as he drinks it its life-giving and life-renewing qualities. This is the spring which has the most reputation medically, and indeed the cures which it has worked in some chronic cases are astonishing. It may perhaps be somewhat impregnated with mercury, as it comes right out from under the cinnabar. The whole of this cinnabar discovery is somewhat peculiar. Some years ago a tradition was floating around that the Indians had encamped somewhere and kindled a fire on some loose rocks, and that shortly afterward they lost their hair (without being scalped) and all their teeth. The story reached the ears of one of our most enterprising and persistent prospectors and miners, Mr. Henry Klippel. He did not like to acknowledge that he had been set in motion by such an airy nothing as this report until success had crowned his efforts. He succeeded in getting an Indian who would not go near the place for fear of the evil spirit that had so quickly "lifted the hair" of his brethren, but he described the locality. An examination of Beaver Creek showed float cinnabar, and for six years the search has been continued until at last the deposit has been found, and is of surpassing richness and in great abundance. A well-known miner came to grief in the claim as well as the Indians. He was a great smoker and carried his tobacco loose in his trousers pocket. When sinking a shaft some crumbs of ore must have got into his pocket and mingled in the tobacco, and when he lighted his pipe the mercury became volatilized by the heat, and he lost every tooth in his head.
    Some time since, 2,800 pounds of ore was shipped to Oakland in this state, where it was reduced in a large retort, and over 1,400 pounds of quicksilver was returned to the shippers. That was over 50 percent, and the ore is better now than it was then. A retort weighing 2,000 pounds is now on the ground and will be ready to go to work in two weeks. From the appearance of the ore on the dump and in the mine we predict a good return for the patience, time, labor and money which have been used in its development.
BEVANS.
Oregonian, Portland, August 27, 1877, page 3


FROM ADAM KLIPPEL.
JACKSONVILLE, OREGON, Sept. 6, '77.
    MR. DAVENPORT:--I am writing back as fast as I can find the time. I am finding out all about the country as fast as I can. I saw a man who has been horseback to the sea coast, who says Curry County, Oregon, is nearly an unbroken wilderness, and is inhabited by a few white nomads, who worked their way through from California. Crescent City, California, is 16 miles south of Chetco and for many years was the only shipping point for Jacksonville and the entire Rogue River country, but since the roads have been graded via Ashland and the Siskiyous to Yreka and Redding, all the trading goes that way. The merchants of this valley do not care for reaching the sea on a shortcut and across the country. They can make more money hauling their goods far and selling them at fabulous prices. The trading men here all get rich, and are getting richer from day to day. A number of wagons with movers on board pass through here daily from California, bound for Washington Territory. But few emigrants stop in this valley. I meet very many of the early settlers who have been here ever since 1852. A new infusion of population into this valley and a road to the ocean would help things wonderfully, and give everything a new impetus. Table linen would not then sell for a dollar a yard as is now the case.
    At the first settlement of Oregon, Congress donated 640 acres to every head of a family. Time has shown that this has retarded the development of the state. The best farming land was thus taken up in great quantities, and those coming afterwards, finding the best locations taken up, had to pass on to remote or more inconvenient parts of the country. These "donationists" are fast disappearing, and their land is gradually changing hands and being cut up into smaller farms. In this manner the many land-poor will be ultimately relieved, and the state greatly benefited. When in San Francisco I told several of my friends--ardent Californians--that I was going to Oregon one of them sneeringly remarked, "What, do you want to go to a country where it rains thirteen months in a year?" I have been in Astoria, in Portland, all through the Willamette, Umpqua, and Rogue River valleys, and conversed with dozens of people, and not one seemed discommoded by the rains of winter and spring. There has not been any rain in the state since I got here. It rained on me on top of the Siskiyou Range of mountains, over in California, 40 miles southwest of here. In my opinion it would be a good thing if we had a little rain just now. The roads that are traveled, as for instance the stage roads, are quite dusty, but as there are no blustery winds the dust does not inconvenience anybody. The soil in the valleys and on the foothills, too, is of dark reddish color and quite gravelly. One used to our alluvial black loamy Missouri soil would suppose that nothing can grow in this gravelly red soil. But if he looks at the rank vegetation of this entire country he will soon be undeceived. The fine cornfields in the valleys, the remarkable size of potatoes, tomatoes, peaches, plums, figs, pears, prunes and apples are an evidence of the remarkable fertility of the soil. But the growth of trees is perhaps the best criterion to judge this country by. Taller fir, pine and cedar trees I have never seen in my life. Not only do these trees thrive in the valleys, but anywhere on the very tops of the highest mountains can they be seen. Many of these trees are very tall, varying in height from 150 feet and upward, and some measure at their base 12 feet in diameter. Col. Markland has a picture of Jacksonville; in the vicinity of Henry Klippel's residence stands one of these evergreen fir trees, 150 feet high. Down toward the coast, I am told, they are much taller. Men who have seen them assure me they are perfect monsters. Trees of 300 feet in height, that measure at their base from 15 to 20 feet in diameter, are a common occurrence. The oak trees in this valley are also very remarkable. Some of them are tremendous in body and foliage, and whenever they are wide enough apart they afford a dense shade. The grain of the great sugar and white pine trees is so perfect that while at the cinnabar quicksilver mines I saw one-inch, two-inch, three-inch and four-inch lumber, which we split with a froe and was as smooth as if it had been sawed with a circular saw.
    The farmers' pest here are the squirrels. They are so plenty that they destroy the grain before it is cut in the fields, as also the vegetables that grow in the gardens. But vigorous measures are being adopted to exterminate the "varmint." As for the celebrated ferrin wheat [sic--fern? foreign?], about which some newcomer writes to one of the Atchison County papers, and which was copied into a Holt County paper, and which is represented as being such a great source of annoyance to the farmers here, I would say that it is no more than our foxtail. The fields of the good farmers here are as free from the ferrin weeds as are good farmers' cornfields in Holt County from foxtail and cockleburs. The wild oats grow more rank here than the ferren [sic] weeds. A field once sown to oats one season and wheat the next is very sure to have a lively sprinkle of wild oats the following season. I noticed many wheat fields in the Willamette Valley badly sprinkled with oats. Wild oats is a common occurrence over many portions of Oregon, and is a favorite grass with the cattle. In northern and central Oregon the harvest was progressing as I passed through on the 18th of August. In the Umpqua Valley and Rogue River country, harvest is invariably and fully three weeks earlier. And the climate is also very different in many respects. The excessive rains complained of in Puget Sound country and the great Willamette Valley do not molest the Umpqua and Rogue River regions. There is really more danger of too little rain here than too much. This is corroborated by all the older settlers here. Many of the settlers of Southern Oregon before coming here tried a number of climates and finally settled here as the best.
    A rather singular feature of the people of this coast is the rapid changing of the auburn, blonde and black hair to gray. People here turn gray early but live long. An old gentleman met me whilst traveling in alone from Applegate River, who although he had attained his eightieth year, was as pert as a man of fifty. I meet many others in the prime of life who are perfectly gray and look as patriarchal as can be.
ROGUE RIVER FALLS SEPT 7.
    The great attraction on the Pacific Coast being the Rogue River Falls, and Crater Lake on the summit of the Cascade Mountains, my friends thought it wouldn't do for me not to see these wonders of the continent. So we rigged up a wagon and team, tent and camp equipage with two weeks provisions and started on our 200 miles journey. When I say we, I mean Richard Klippel, Lannes Klippel, Aaron Maegly, Wm. Peninger and myself. We started from Jacksonville Tuesday evening Sept. 4; lodged at Fisher's where we took in balance of provisions; sack of flour and 20 bushels of oats for the horses. As we passed out of the fertile Rogue River Valley we entered the so-called twelve-mile desert. This body of land seemed to me as if it had once been the bottom of the sea, and consists of a continuation of gentle hills and valleys. The hills are a sandy, pebbly formation, and the valleys are filled with coarse gravel and round rock.
    We are taking a northeastern course from Jacksonville, and at Bybee's Crossing we ferry from the left side of Rogue River to the right of that stream; we keep on the right for a distance of 44 miles where we cross it once more over a brand-new bridge near Mr. Deskins' ranch and sawmill, one and one-half miles above the Falls. Here we halt again for the night, and in the morning we visit the falls, and in doing so we have to pass through a dense growth of timber and underbrush. Having reached the precipice of the Falls we had a fine view. It is not an abrupt fall but a succession of falls. The river falls 300 feet in as many yards, and works itself through and overshoots huge boulders of rock. Two hundred yards below is another and by far the finest of this cluster of falls. A large tributary to Rogue River empties its waters into it over its perpendicular left bank, which is here 198 feet in height. The deafening sound of the leaping waters, the dampening spray and the multitudinous rainbow tints present a scene both wild and grand. To give a description of the rugged precipitous Rogue River canyon, so as to impress its magnitude upon persons at a distance, is quite an impossibility for me, and I will have to leave it to your imagination to supply the deficiency of my description.
    In the afternoon of Friday the 7th, we left the camp at Deskins' (the Rogue River bridge near the Falls) and drove nine miles further on our way to Crater Lake, and stopped one and one-half miles this side of Union Creek for the purpose of enjoying a bear and deer hunt, which game abound in all this region of country. Up to this writing (at 2 p.m.) our hunters have brought in but two deer and one lynx (wildcat) but "nary bear." Harvey Deskins is among our hunting party. About a mile from camp he shot a deer, and as he was dragging it down the mountain he came across two cubs (young bears). He tried to capture one when its mother made her appearance and showed fight for the protection of her offspring, whereupon Mr. Deskins retreated, believing that to be the better part of valor. The most wonderful bear stories are related by these courageous backwoodsmen. I can only believe them by taking a look at their stocks of bear, panther and deer skins. I am thinking of bringing home with me enough bear skins to carpet one or two of our rooms. I asked if there was any danger of exterminating this game, and received as an answer that there would not be in 200 years.
CRATER LAKE CAMP, SEPT. 9TH.
    Reached here at 3 p.m. Went up to the rim of Crater Lake, 8,500 feet above the level of the sea. We looked over an immense precipice 2,200 feet into the blue lake below. We viewed this wonder of the Pacific Coast from different elevations on the western banks. It is six miles across and fifteen long, and a gentle island (mountain peak) rising from its center is covered with a scattering growth of tall fir and pine trees. The top of the peak has a deep hole in it, at the bottom of which lies a bank of eternal snow. As we had no trusted guide to pilot us, and as the surface of the lake appeared to us very ruffled from a storm and the white waves were visible, we did not feel like risking our precious lives in an attempt to descend to the water's edge. A commanding view of the entire lake is afforded from a high rocky point on the northwest. The high rocky walls which surround this remarkable body of water on the top of this high range of mountains, and the great fields of pumice stone that are strewn in great quantities all over this country, all go to show that this was once a mighty volcano, which poured out fiery lava in every direction. Huge boulders of burned rock and immense beds of pumice stone could be seen for forty-five miles of our journey ascending the Cascade Mountains. The same is true on the east of this mountain.
    We have passed Fort Klamath, 22 miles from Crater Lake, and Klamath Indian Reservation, 27 miles from Crater Lake. The Indians do not go near the rim of this remarkable lake. They maintain that looking down upon its blue waters is certain death to the Indian.
    Many questions are asked and still unanswered concerning this last. How much higher was this mountain before it exploded? When did the eruption take place? Where does this great body of water come from, and where does it go to? It has no inlet and no outlet. And how deep is it? Owing to the high altitude, and the cold and snow, we have no account that it has ever been visited in the winter time. The government owes it to the world of science to have this lake and its surroundings thoroughly explored. The explorations so far have all been by private parties and very unsatisfactory.
MONDAY SEPT. 10TH.
    We had intended to spend this day and the next in visiting the elevation on its northern boundary and descending to the water's edge, but before daybreak on Monday morning a storm arose and a rain set in,which by eight o'clock turned into a furious snow storm. We were in a quandary what to do, whether to remain in camp and wait for the storm to subside, or to pull up stakes and strike for the head of Klamath Valley, fifteen miles southeast of the summit of Crater Mountain. There appeared to be every indication of a lasting storm and we decided to abandon Crater. As we descended the mountain into Eastern Oregon we endured a pelting rain accompanied by a chilling atmosphere. In looking back, the dense clouds were enveloping the mountains in every direction. In passing the Klamath Indian Reservation the next day, we had a fine view of the mountains we had left. They were white with the snows of the previous day.
    On our way to Fort Klamath, we came to the biggest spring on the trip. It bursts forth out of the earth eight feet one way and seventy-five the other and forms what is called Wood River. The waters are very cool and as clear as crystal, and the stream is full of fish. This spring evidently receives its waters from the crater. The point where it issues from the earth has an elevation of 4,270 feet above the level of the sea, and is almost twelve miles distant from Crater Lake.
    We passed through the so-called Klamath Marsh, a vast tract of meadow land, with thousands upon thousands of head of horses, cattle and sheep. None of this land seemed to us marshy; it is much in the shape of our Missouri prairie bottoms, with only this difference that the streams which flow through it (of which there are quite a number) flow very rapidly.
    From the Rogue River Falls to the U.S. military post, Fort Klamath, a distance of 53 miles, there is not a house to be seen. The country between these points is too varied to attempt to give it a satisfactory description at this moment, and I must reserve it for some other time.
    In driving down from Fort Klamath to Linkville, a distance of 36 miles, we have Upper Klamath Lake to oar right, a fine sheet of water 30 miles in length and 10 to 16 miles wide. On our left the road winds along the foot of a high chain of mountains. Across Upper Klamath Lake may be seen a still higher chain of the Cascade Mountains. The scene of valley, meadow, lake and mountain is grand beyond description, and in order to be fully appreciated must be seen.
    The Upper Klamath Valley and the Lower Klamath Valley are two distinct geographical formations. The waters of the Upper Lake force their way through a narrow canyon in the mountains, for a distance of only a mile and a half, and enter the Klamath River at Linkville. Only an arm of the Lower Klamath Lake was visible, the main body being screened from us by a vast expanse of swamp and meadow, connecting Lake Tule in California with lower Klamath. Lakes Warner, Goose and Abert are close by, but have other outflows. I have not the figures at hand to give the number of square miles that these lower lakes cover. But the area is very great, and the maps now in use give but a faint idea of their magnitude. The whole country hereabouts is a vast grazing region, but rather high in altitude, and consequently cold in winter. With a little effort a thrifty man can cut enough hay in the fall to do all the cattle he wants to feed in the winter. The hay meadows are inexhaustible.
    The boiling hot springs at Linkville are a real wonder. We tried to dip some with our hands, and scalded them badly. Eggs and potatoes can be boiled in them. One of the citizens told me that the waters of this spring are used for scalding hogs.
ADAM KLIPPEL.
Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, September 28, 1877, 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


SOUTHWESTERN OREGON.
Its Grand Scenery and Delightful Climate--The Rogue River Valley--
Productions of this Wonderful Country--Sheep Husbandry and Farming--The Mining Interest
--Gold, Platinum, Copper,
Plumbago and Diamonds Found, Etc., Etc.

Interesting Letter from a Former Editor of Missouri.

    EDITOR GAZETTE:--I owe you an apology for not writing ere this to the GAZETTE, as I promised, some of my experiences in the wilds of Southwestern Oregon. The enervating effect of the intense warm weather of the past four weeks is the only reason that I can assign for not writing sooner.
    Six out of the eight months that I sojourned on the Pacific Coast I spent away from the great valleys in the mountains of Southern Oregon. During that time I have noted down a number of facts about the climate, the soil, products, mines, etc., that it will take some labor to "write up," and I can give you at this time only a cursory article, without any regard to system or arrangement of subjects.
    The five seasons preceding the last winter, the
CLIMATE OF SOUTHERN OREGON,
including the magnificent Rogue River Valley, has been as near perfection as can be. The superabundant rains of the Willamette and Puget Sound countries to the north, and the oppressive droughts of California to the south of us, were entirely unknown. And whilst the crops in California perished for the want of rain, and those of the Willamette and Puget Sound countries suffered on account of too much rain, Southern Oregon has not experienced the least inconvenience from these causes. Indeed, crops have never been known to fail here since the first settlement of the valley by whites in 1851-2.
THE ROGUE RIVER VALLEY
proper, in extent about forty-five miles one way and twenty-five the other way, is a continuation of Southern Oregon, and with the surrounding mountains, forms the third grand division of the state. It partakes very much of the character of the Umpqua Valley on the north. It is still higher and dryer, the atmosphere is warmer and balmier, the air is pure and soft, the days are warm and the nights cool. The climate is equal to that of the Isle of Wight, the south of France or Italy, and is not surpassed by Madeira for invalids. The spring is early, the summer is lng, and the winter short and mild. It abounds in extensive and beautiful valleys, divided up into large and cultivated farms that yield from twenty-five to sixty bushels of wheat to the acre, according to cultivation. Corn grows and produces abundantly. Figs, peaches, pears, prunes, apricots, plums and all such fruits grow to perfection. Grapes are making great progress in quantity and quality, and wine to a limited extent is manufactured.
    Nuts of various kinds, especially the almond and English walnut, are being cultivated to advantage. The valley is well sheltered by the Coast and Cascade
ranges, by its own mountains, and its numerous spurs from them. These mountains are well covered with fir and pine timber; the foothills and valleys have a great deal of fine and scattering oak, yew, pine and laurel, that add great beauty to the country.
    As already remarked, this valley gets little rain compared with the Willamette, but the soil is just adapted to that state of things, and what it wants in rain is made up by extraordinary facilities for irrigation from the numerous rivers, creeks and springs that abound in the valley and that are so placed by nature as to be available for that purpose.
FARMING AND SHEEP HUSBANDRY.
    Farming in the valleys and sheep and stock raising in the mountains, whenever intelligently and earnestly carried on, have so far been sure of success. The sheep business especially, which is extensively carried on all through this country, is a source of never-failing profit to all engaged in it. The mildness of the climate is especially adapted to this kind of industry. During the winter months there is not frost enough in the valley and the lower "mountain benches" to impede outdoor farm work. On the nice rainless days in December, January, February and March, I frequently observed men plowing, sowing and harrowing in their fields. The climate is certainly extremely partial to the Oregon agriculturist and stock-raiser, as but few men seem to think it necessary to provide shelter in the winter for their livestock.
    The nature of the soil is peculiar. In the main Rogue River Valley, it is a decomposed granite soil, and can stand any amount of wet as well as dry weather. During the rainless months of last summer I was surprised to notice the healthy and vigorous look of vegetation, especially the orchards, vineyards and forests--and this without irrigation. Of course, at points where irrigation was used, the gardens, meadows and alfalfa fields were covered with a luxuriant verdure nowhere surpassed.
    During my sojourn in the valley, I have conversed with quite a number of discouraged farmers, who allege that they have not been able to make farming profitable, because of the want of a ready market for their surplus produce. The isolation of the country, the want of graded roads leading out of the valley through the mountains to the Pacific Ocean, the difficulty of constructing a direct wagon road or railroad to the seaboard, etc., are spoken of as so many barriers against reaching, cheaply and conveniently, San Francisco, the great market for this coast. As a result of this depression among agriculturists, farming is but indifferently carried on, and many of the farmers are interested in one or more mining enterprises. The valley or agricultural lands are held in large tracts by these men, and many are really "land poor," with their farms mortgaged for debts contracted in a number of ways, mostly in stores.
AN OUTLET WANTED.
    Located within less than one hundred miles of the great Pacific Ocean, where there are points for the safe anchorage of vessels (Ellensburg, Chetco, etc.), the people of the Rogue River Valley have to this day no outlet except by way of Portland, three hundred miles to the north, and San Francisco four hundred miles to the south of them. And in order to reach either of these points the citizens pay a tribute to both the stage and railroad companies. In going to Portland the nearest railroad station is one hundred miles; and in going to San Francisco the nearest railroad station is one hundred and seventy miles. It is not difficult to see why it does not pay to ship their produce to market in this roundabout way. The evils complained of could be remedied by utilizing the great ocean that washes the western shores of this state.
    Ellensburg harbor, at the mouth of Rogue River, with from eight to ten fathoms of water at low tide, and Chetco harbor, at the mouth of the Chetco River, with from eighteen to twenty-two fathoms, are the natural outlets of Southern Oregon. Crescent City, in the northwestern corner of California, was thought to be the proper ocean landing for Rogue River Valley, and government built a lighthouse there, but the experience of mariners for the past ten years has demonstrated that it is nothing but an open "roadstead," unapproachable to vessels in heavy weather. But as the attention of the authorities as well as the people is now being directed to the wants of our western seaboard, it is thought that the relief so urgently needed will not long delay.
    The bill introduced in the United States Senate last winter by Senator Mitchell, of Oregon, to extend the Fort Klamath military wagon road from Jacksonville to Ellensburg harbor, appropriating $50,000, did not become a law for want of time to examine its merits, but will undoubtedly pass at the next session of Congress. When once completed this road will be of incalculable benefit to both the government and the people inhabiting the coast region between the 41st and 43rd parallels of north latitude, and will render of easy access one of the richest mineral countries in America.
THE MINING INTEREST.
    Mining for the precious metals is a growing industry in Southwestern Oregon, especially "placer" gold mining. Whilst in Oregon I devoted considerable time to the examination of mines, and what miners call "prospecting." The presence of gold in divers forms and quantities all through the creek and river flats and mountainsides is revealed by the process of prospecting. (One takes a panful of earth that he supposes to contain particles of gold, carries it to the water and washes the dirt thoroughly. Gold, being the heaviest of all metals, will settle at the bottom of the pan, while the sand and dirt pass out.) Of late years, surface mining, i.e., the old muscular method of "panning" and "rocking," is fast being abandoned as unremunerative, as the easy pay streaks have become exhausted. But as there is nonetheless gold in the earth, new methods of mining, especially hydraulic mining, are being successfully introduced. Hydraulic mining can only be carried on by an outlay of large sums of money invested in the construction of ditches for carrying heavy streams of water to the ground where needed. A stream of a thousand inches of water, playing upon a gold-bearing gravel bank through a pipe and giant, effectually does the work of 400 men with pick and shovel. The power of water with two hundred or more feet of pressure is very great and rapidly moves and washes away immense bodies of clay and gravel. The dissolving masses flow through sluice boxes, four feet wide, three feet high and hundreds of feet long, according to the amount of "dump." At intervals all along the bottom of the sluice boxes (or flumes) riffles are placed for catching the gold.
    Much of the subsoil of Jackson and Josephine counties, Oregon, is composed of immense gravel deposits, varying in depth from three feet to three hundred feet. In most instances the gravel is knitted or cemented together with a yellow clay, interspersed with every imaginable size of round and smooth quartz and granite rock. The fact that the rock found in these gravel beds has a smooth surface plainly shows the action of water at some remote period of the world's history. In Jackson County the gravel channels range from southwest to northeast, and what is most remarkable and inexplicable, many of them are situated hundreds, and some thousands of feet above the present river and creek beds. In our "prospectings" every portion of them have been found to contain gold, the parts nearest the bedrock exceeding in richness the parts nearest the grass roots. The gold is scattered promiscuously in small particles throughout this gravel.
    By what agency of nature these immense gravel deposits have been formed, and how the gold got there, is a problem yet to be solved. Certain it is that the earth since her existence has undergone many overwhelming changes. The action of fire as well as water is plainly visible, especially the latter. It was undoubtedly the action of whirling streams of water that washed into perfect smoothness the millions of small and large boulders to be found all through this country.
    Numerous "prospects" that have been made by practical miners in the counties of Jackson, Josephine and Curry have revealed an unprecedented mineral fertility. Besides gold in "placer" and "quartz" formations, the country is rich in platinum, cinnabar (ore of quicksilver), copper, iron, coal, plumbago and isinglass. Indications of lead and silver have also been discovered in different parts between Jacksonville and the coast. In "cleaning up" at several hydraulic mines along Little and Big Applegate two very valuable diamonds have been found recently.
    In order to successfully carry on hydraulic mining three things are indispensable. First, a gold-bearing gravel deposit. Second, facilities for outlet to deposit the "tailings," called "dump." Third, an abundant and permanent supply of water. The construction of ditches for the carrying of water to the gold fields is the main item of expense in hydraulic mining, and none but capitalists can engage in these enterprises. I have noticed several English capitalists on the Pacific Coast seeking investments in this class of mines. During my sojourn there I heard of the transfer of two hydraulic mining enterprises, one in Oregon and the other in California, Englishmen being the purchasers in each case. The one in Oregon brought $75,000, and the one in California $250,000. For the past sixteen years there have been built in California 530½ miles of ditches for mining purposes, at a cost of $3,565,648. Included in this count are seventeen of the principal hydraulic mines in California. A number of other companies have made ditches with which they are operating mines, but not having their statistics at hand I cannot give their length nor the cost of their construction.
    Within the past twelve months, mining in Jackson County, Oregon, has taken a new start. Old mining ground, supposed to have been worked out long ago, has been worked over again, and found to contain rich deposits of gold. New ground has been taken up in different portions of the county, and found to be equally as rich.
    A little over a year ago the Sterling Hydraulic Mining Company commenced building a ditch twenty-seven miles in length at a cost (including purchase price of water rights and mining ground) of $75,000. They began to operate about the middle of March, and on the first of August, when the water gave out, they began to "clean up." They have washed an immense amount of gravel since they began, and their returns will be correspondingly large. A partial cleanup, some weeks ago, leads to the belief that upward of $200 per day was realized.
ADAM KLIPPEL.
    SEPTEMBER 2, 1878.
St. Joseph Gazette, St. Joseph, Missouri, September 11, 1878, page 2


    HEAVY TRANSACTION.--Several of the heaviest instruments of writing ever recorded in Jackson County, Oregon, were last week spread upon the records by County Clerk Henry Klippel. The documents contain 68 folio pages of mortgage deeds and releases. In the latter the German bond-holders release a mortgage of $10,900,000 held against the Oregon and California Railroad, and existing since 1870. The new mortgage dated May 20, 1881, conveying all the railroad property of the line, binds H. Villard and other gentlemen constituting the present O.&C.R.R. Co. in the sum of $10,900,000, payable to Heinrich Hohensemer and fifteen other capitalists of Frankfurt-on-the-Main, Germany, named in the instrument of writing. Mr. Richard Koehler, of Portland, is acting for the German bond-holders.
Puget Sound Argus, La Conner, Washington, September 3, 1881, page 2


    Mr. Kelly also informs us that Klippel's wing dam on Salmon River is a complete success and that the boys are happy with the good prospect they have in sight. They are now an estimated distance of four feet from bedrock, and the first three barrows of dirt from the strata they are now working realized $15, or $3 per barrow, and getting richer as they go down. The gold is of the round and heavy character similar to that on Little Slate Creek. The Klippel company recently put four additional men to work and had to send to Mt. Idaho for more. The success of this enterprise means a big thing for this country in the near future, because the bars on both sides of the Salmon and all its forks are known to be rich, especially the north fork, and several companies of Mr. Klippel's associates in Southern Oregon are pretty sure to come up and engage in similar enterprises now that it is known to be profitable. The mines in the Salmon River country are already locating bars on both sides of the main Salmon with the design of constructing wing dams, and everything bids fair to speedily realize the prediction we made when writing up that country a few weeks ago, that ten thousand men can find profitable employment for ten months in the year for the next hundred years by working the Salmon River bars.
"Our Mineral Resources," Walla Walla Statesman, October 15, 1881, page 1


From Oregon.
    By permission we publish the following interesting letter from Mrs. Klippel, which was written to the Woman's Union, on the occasion of its tenth anniversary.
PORTLAND, OREGON, December 15, 1881.
    Dear Sisters of the Union:--It is already more than two years since last we met with you, but often during that time have thought of you and wished ourselves among your number at your weekly meetings.
    Through Mrs. Christian and Mrs. Schatz, we have heard occasionally from you, and it does us good to hear of old friends. We would like very much to be with you at your anniversary, but as that cannot be, we will imagine ourselves there.
    I suppose that you have all heard that we've made another move, from Jacksonville to Portland, Oregon. Arrived here on the 9th of September last, after a two days' journey--one day and night on the stage, and a day on the cars. A hundred miles of staging over the roughest mountain road on the Pacific Coast, is a question of such momentous import as to baffle stronger pens than mine. Up the mountain and down the mountain for nineteen mortal hours--ah, who can do justice to the subject. Suffice it to say, we reached the end of our stage ride at four in the morning, so completely shaken up that we shall not soon forget its effect. Another hour found us comfortably seated in a train, headed northward. It seemed like getting back into the world again, to see railroads and the life and bustle of the city.
    Southern Oregon is a beautiful and good country, but until now it has been so isolated as to be out of reach. A railroad is talked of very strongly, and the late papers say it is expected to be built through to beyond Jacksonville, from this end in one year. When it is completed, Southern Oregon will settle up very rapidly.
    Rogue River Valley is the prettiest we have ever been in; they raise nice fruit of all kinds and such an abundance of it. We left some warm friends in Jacksonville, from whom it was hard to part; but "to meet to part is mortal's lot," and we have had to experience that again. And to leave two of Holt County's boys behind us--Will. Brodbeck remains in the mines near Jacksonville, and John Schlotzhauer on a farm about twenty miles south of there.
    Portland is a stirring place; reminds us very much of St. Joseph, Mo., though there is more business done here than there, on account of the ocean steamships and sailing vessels from all parts of the world arriving here.
    We like to live here and are beginning to feel very much at home. We haven't found as much rain yet as we expected; have had some nice days every week since we have been here; have had no snow, whereas in Jacksonville they had a three-inch snowfall recently. The past few days have been very springlike, the sun shining beautifully, and the air being mild and sweet. We have a rose unfolding in our front yard; in a day or two it will be in full bloom. It is a beautiful large red rose. There are roses and other flowers blooming in many of the yards of the city.
    Portland has more beautiful residences than any place we have seen, compared with its size. We were surprised to see the people take such great pride in beautifying their homes. We can get fresh vegetables, grown out in the gardens, every day. There are large gardens just back of our house, in what is called the canyon, which are cultivated by Chinamen; they are sowing and planting all the time. When a bed is emptied something else is put in right away. They keep their gardens in such perfect order, it is a pretty sight to look upon them; from our height we have such a nice view of them from our back window. There are so many Chinamen in Portland. On some of the streets you meet as many of the almond-eyed as the white people. Some of them are wealthy and own large business houses. On the business streets, there are whole blocks owned by them. A Chinese baby is the oddest-looking little creature; they are dressed in every color imaginable, the gayest ones predominating. They look like little monkeys.
    In his new position as business manager of the Pacific Christian Advocate, Mr. Klippel is kept very busy; his time is as fully occupied as it used to be when he edited the Holt County Sentinel. Richard is employed in the same office; Edgar is an operator in the telegraph office. Ida has been taking a course at the business cottage, which she will soon finish, and between times is engaged as copyist at the office of the U.S. Surveyor General, in the Custom House. Charlie attends the public schools, which are very good.
    I presume Mrs. Foster will be interested to hear that we have seen her brother, Richard Markland. He called a short time ago and we had a pleasant visit with him. He has changed but little since we had last seen him, ten years ago in Oregon, Mo.; is fleshier than he was then, but doesn't look any older. He says he likes this country very much, and does not want to live in a country again where there are no mountains.
    The mountain scenery is grand; we have some beautiful views from Portland. The grandest is Mt Hood; it appears as though we were only a few miles from its base, while it really is forty-nine miles away; besides are Mt. St. Helens, 58 miles, Mt. Adams, 69 miles, and the Three Sisters, seventy miles from here; these are each from 11,000 to 14,000 feet high and covered with snow the year round.
    Our health is good and has been ever since we have been on this coast.
    Hoping that the Union will continue to prosper, and wishing you all a happy time at your anniversary, I remain
Your Friend and Sister,
    MRS. E. KLIPPEL.
Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, January 27, 1882, page 8


HENRY KLIPPEL
     Born in Germany, December 11, 1833. His parents brought him to America when four years old, and settled at Cincinnati, Ohio. His father died here and the family moved to St. Joseph, Mo. In 1851, Mr. Klippel crossed the plains to Oregon, arriving August 16th of that year. After remaining in the Willamette Valley about six weeks, he came across the state to Yreka with a gentleman who was going to that place, arriving in the fall. Here he mined during the winter and in February, 1852, came to Jacksonville, Jackson County. He mined first at Galice Creek, Josephine County, but soon returned to Rich Gulch where he engaged principally in mining until 1857, after which time he followed various occupations until 1860, when the Gold Hill mine was struck. He then gave this mine his entire attention and put up on that mine the first quartz mill built in Oregon. In 1864 he went to Idaho and mined successfully--returning in the fall of that year. In 1868 [he] engaged in the hardware business trade in company with Wm. Hoffman. This business he followed for six years. At the incorporation of Jacksonville, he was elected recorder, and afterwards president of the board of trustees. In 1870 was elected sheriff of Jackson County, holding the office one term. In 1872, he was appointed one of the capitol commissioners, and after the first year was elected president of the board. In 1874, the legislature met, and Mr. Klippel was elected to the office of capitol commissioner, and resigned about November, 1874. Returning to Jacksonville, built another quartz mill with Mr. Beekman on the Jewett claim. He was also one of the discoverers of the Emeline cinnabar mine, which yielded a fair percent of quicksilver. In 1874, he was chairman of the Democratic state central committee and in 1876 nominated for a Tilden elector. In 1872, he was nominated by the Democratic Party to represent Jackson County in the legislature, but was defeated. In 1877, he with a company built a water ditch from Swan Lake to the mines they owned on Applegate and ran a hydraulic mine. These mines he took charge of after the completion of the ditch, and followed this business until 1880, when he was elected county clerk; re-elected in 1882 and is the present incumbent. Mr. Klippel married Elizabeth J. Bingham, January 24th, 1860, and they have five children living.
A. G. Walling, History of Southern Oregon, Comprising Jackson, Josephine, Douglas, Curry and Coos Counties, 1884, page 530


    Hon. Henry Klippel, ex-county clerk, is now in Chewaucan Valley, Lake County, and is preparing to go into the stock business extensively. His family are with him.
"Personal," Ashland Tidings, July 31, 1885, page 3


    Henry Klippel returned from east of the mountains this week. His new quartz mill is all ready for work and will be started up next Monday. The lack of mining water will probably prevent it moving steady at present, however.
"Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, October 23, 1886, page 3


    Philip Klippel, an old resident of this vicinity, has gone to make his future home at Jacksonville, Oregon.
Weekly Kansas Chief, Troy, Kansas, March 10, 1887, page 3


    W. S. Barnum, of Medford, has bought the boiler lately used in Klippel and Baumle's quartz mill and will move it to that town for use in his planing mill.
"Local News,"
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, October 20, 1887, page 3


     FAMILY REUNION.--A happy and enjoyable affair took place at the residence of Henry Klippel in this city last Sunday, it being the first meeting in 37 years of all of the children of the Klippel family. Those of the family present were Mrs. Maegly, of Wyandotte, Kansas, Rev. Adam Klippel, of Portland, Phillip and Jacob Klippel, of Poormans Creek, and Henry Klippel, of Jacksonville. These five were grouped together, and their photograph taken by which they can long remember this happy meeting. Among others present were Mr. Jacob Maegly, A. H. Maegly and family and Henry Klippel's family. This assembly was hardly expected to ever occur again, especially not on this coast. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Maegly will leave some time next week for their eastern home, going via Portland.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, March 1, 1888, page 3


    Henry Klippel is having his residence in the eastern part of town painted and otherwise improved.

"Local News," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, March 1, 1888, page 3


    HENRY KLIPPEL.--Mr. Klippel has been intimately connected with the public business and measures of our state, particularly in Southern Oregon. Like the most of our successful men, his progress has been by hard labor, and even by hard knocks; that is, he has, out of the capital of his own hands and brain, gained point after point, and succeeded in stamping his mind and character upon public affairs.
    He was born in Hesse Darmstadt in 1833, and came to America five years later. After an industrious and active life in the old West--losing his father by death at the age of fifteen, and making a new home for his mother in Missouri--he crossed the plains to Oregon in 1851, finding a few months' employment at Oregon City on a ferry boat, and afterwards driving an ox-team to Yreka. This introduced him to the mining life which he had been contemplating since 1848, and from which he has never wholly withdrawn.
    His operations at Jacksonville in 1852 were cut short by Indian trouble and, under Captain Lamerick, he took a hand in quieting the savages, and again became an Indian fighter in 1853 and again in 1855 and 1856. After this he took up whatever offered the prospect of bread or money, not drifting, but working for sea room. In 1866 he was able to undertake the hardware business in Jacksonville, Oregon, and was introduced to political life by his election as sheriff of Jackson County in 1870. In 1872 he was appointed by Governor Grover as one of the commissioners to build the state capitol. In 1874 he was elected to the Oregon legislature to succeed himself as capitol commissioner, and resigned before the expiration of his second term. In 1876 he was intimately connected with the Tilden campaign, being elected one of the electors on the Democratic ticket.
    Mr. Klippel was the pioneer of quartz mining, having built the first stamp mill at Gold Hill, Oregon, in 1860; and in 1880 he engaged in hydraulic mining on a large scale at Squaw Lake. He was also elected county clerk in that year. Upon his retirement from this office in 1884 he entered extensively into stock-raising in Lake County which, together, with farming, mining and his real estate business, keeps him actively occupied. He was the first recorder of Jacksonville. He was married at that place in 1860 to Miss Elizabeth A. Bigham, a lady who was born in Missouri. They have one daughter and four sons.
Elwood Evans, History of the Pacific Northwest: Oregon and Washington, 1889, page 414


    Fred W. Klippel, after an absence of several years, is paying relatives and friends here a visit. He holds a prominent position with a railroad company having its headquarters at Chicago.

"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, July 18, 1890, page 3


    Henry Klippel, one of Oregon's commissioners to the World's Fair, goes to Portland this week to discuss ways and mean of having Oregon to show herself at the great exposition in 1892.
"Medford Doings," Valley Record, Ashland, October 9, 1890, page 3


    Mr. Henry Klippel, of Medford, Or., one of the federal commissioners [of the Chicago World's Fair], writes a comprehensive, wide-awake letter to Pres. Osborne. He calls attention to the unanimously expressed will of the state press that Oregon shall be fittingly represented. He expresses the hope that "action shall be formulated and taken without delay to the end that our state may take the place with her sister states in this coming exposition, which nature and the energy and industry of her citizens have by right accorded her." He declares that "a poor exhibit from Oregon would defer anyone, home maker or capitalist, from coming here; an indifferent exhibit would be passed by with contempt after gazing upon the manifold wonders which the exposition would present, while a fair exhibit, which would be in our case a great representation of a greater land, would bring capitalists and wage-earners here by the thousands."
    Mr. Klippel writes an able letter and favors a $250,000 appropriation.

"World's Fair Movement--The Federal Commissioners Awake," Evening Capital Journal, Salem, October 31, 1890, page 1


    H. Klippel attracts attention to his real estate business by a large sign over the sidewalk in front of his office.
"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 30, 1891, page 2


    Henry Klippel is superintending the planting of 40 acres of fruit trees on the Orchard Home tract this week.
"Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 30, 1891, page 3


    Philip Klippel, of Jacksonville, Ore., an old resident of Doniphan County, is here visiting relatives.
"From Pleasant Ridge," Troy Times, Troy, Kansas, April 24, 1891, page 3


    Hon. Henry Klippel, of Medford, Jackson County, arrived in the city this morning. The gentleman is here to investigate the merits of some ores recently taken out of the mines on the Santiam controlled by Messrs. Cannon and Hammer of the Consolidated Gold & Silver Mining Co. Incidentally it is worthy of mention that Mr. Klippel is one of the federal commissioners from Oregon to the World's Fair.--Salem Journal.
"Misfits," Albany Daily Democrat, June 19, 1891, page 3



    Philip Klippel has again become a resident of this precinct. He says that Kansas no longer has any charms for him, the winters being entirely too cold.
"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 15, 1892, page 3


    H. Klippel's sawmill on Galls Creek is engaged in sawing 6000 ties for the S.P.R.R. Co.
    Wm. Chastain and Fred Miles of Galls Creek are hauling lumber for J. Nunan's new residence from Klippel's mill. It is of fine quality.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, June 3, 1892, page 3


    Lannes P. Klippel of Lake County arrived at his old home in Jacksonville on Wednesday and will stay a short time. This is his first visit during several years past.
"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, September 2, 1892, page 3


    Henry Klippel is furnishing a considerable amount of building material, which is evidence of the fact that much improvement is going on in this section.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, October 28, 1892, page 3


    Jacksonville is a small town in population, but has more of the office-holding fraternity to the square yard than any town in America. After the polls closed on the 8th day of November, a raft of candidates blossomed out for all the offices in Oregon. Henry Klippel is billed for the U.S. marshalship; R. A. Miller for the Oregon City land office; Judge Prim for U.S. consul to Calcutta; Tom Reames for minister to Turkey; Nickell would like to get his fingers in the Treasury Department and Colvig--oh, he is after anything that has a salary attached to it. Circumstances and cruel fate having bereft him of an office for now these five months, he is lean, lank, hungry and dry, famishing and thirsting for another swing at the public teat, and it can't come too soon to suit his appetite.

Valley Record, Ashland, November 24, 1892, page 2


    Miss Sophie Simon of Eagle Point has been visiting at the residence of H. Klippel of this place during the week.
     Mrs. Klippel of Jacksonville, accompanied by her sister, Mrs. Allison of California, visited at Eagle Point last week, being the guests of Mrs. Simon.
"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 25, 1892, page 3


    Mrs. D. Allison last week departed for the bay city after a pleasant visit with her sister, Mrs. H. Klippel of this place.
"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, December 23, 1892, page 3


    Klippel's sawmill on Galls Creek is preparing for a long run during the coming months, having started up again last week.
"Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 27, 1893, page 3


    A. Marcuson of California last week purchased a half interest in the Klippel sawmill on Galls Creek, and will superintend the operating of it in the future.
"Here and There," 
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 3, 1893, page 3


    Mrs. Fred Klippel and two children of Chicago arrived for a visit with the family of H. Klippel one day recently.
"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 17, 1893, page 3


    John Klippel, who has been residing at Portland for some months past, came out last week with a view to locating here should an opportunity present itself.

"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 24, 1893, page 2


    H. Klippel procured a lath and picket machine for his Galls Creek sawmill while at Portland last week.
"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 24, 1893, page 3


    Henry Klippel of this place received the Democratic nomination for the office of railroad commissioner, and should have been elected, but the Republicans persisted in outraging all rules of propriety by naming the Democratic member themselves.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 3, 1893, page 3


    A social dance, lately given by Lannis Klippel at his residence near Summer Lake, Lake County, was one of the greatest successes ever given in that section, says a correspondent who was present.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 17, 1893, page 3


    Henry Klippel, one of the world's fair commissioners for Oregon, was at Salem last week, participating in the organization of the commission which will have charge of the work there.
"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 17, 1893, page 3


    Mrs. Fred. Klippel, who has been paying this section a visit, left yesterday for her home in Chicago.

"Personal Mention," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, March 24, 1893, page 3


    Henry Klippel, one of Oregon's commissioners at the World's Fair, left for Chicago last night, and will be gone a few weeks.

"Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 21, 1893, page 2


    John H. Klippel, who returned from Lake County a few weeks since, is recovering from blood poison. For a while his case was deemed quite serious. One of his hands was injured while he was engaged in handling timber, and the wound, though small at first, threatened fatal consequences.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, April 21, 1893, page 3


    H. Klippel, the Medford lumber merchant, left last Thursday for a thirty days' visit at Chicago's big show. Mr. K. is one of Oregon's Fair commissioners and has gone thither on business in that line.

"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, April 28, 1893, page 3


    Henry Klippel returned to Medford Wednesday from Chicago, at which place he has been stopping for the past few weeks doing service as one of Oregon's [1893 World's] Fair commissioners.
"Purely Personal,"
Medford Mail, May 19, 1893, page 3


    A great deal of lumber has been shipped recently from the Galls Creek mill of Klippel & Marcuson to Medford.
"Here and There," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, June 23, 1893, page 3


    Jas. Briner, J. A. Hanley and Henry Klippel are having their mine on Little Applegate, near the Sam Robinson ranch, developed. They are having a tunnel run to tap a shaft already sunk, and are in 40 feet, with encouraging prospects.
"Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 4, 1894, page 3


    Henry Klippel is a candidate for deputy internal revenue collector.
"Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, January 25, 1894, page 3


    Henry Klippel was up in Oregon the past week to see Henry Blackman about being appointed deputy internal revenue collector.
"Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, February 1, 1894, page 4


    The contest for deputy internal revenue collector of this district seems to lie between A. J. Barlow of Gold Hill and Henry Klippel of Jacksonville. An effort is being made to have one appointed collector and the other storekeeper at Medford, to which the friends of D. T. Sears, who is also a candidate for the last-named office, seriously object.
"Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, February 8, 1894, page 3


    Lannes Klippel, David Cardwell and J. A. Harvey, of Central Point, are at the midwinter fair. Mr. Klippel, who is from Chewaucan, will extend his trip to the Sandwich Islands.
"Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, June 14, 1894, page 3


    Lannes Klippel and Harv. [Marv.?] Taylor returned Monday from San Francisco.
"Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, June 21, 1894, page 4


    Phil Klippel of Kansas is visiting his relatives in this section.
"Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, March 21, 1895, page 3


    Mrs. Fred Klippel and children are here from Omaha to spend the summer with Hon. Henry Klippel.
"Medford Items," Valley Record, Ashland, April 11, 1895, page 3



    Hon. Henry Klippel, one of our enterprising lumber merchants, has his beautiful five-room cottage, on North H Street, enclosed, and the same will soon be ready for occupancy. A more extended mention of this structure was made a couple of weeks ago.

"Medford Improvements," Medford Mail, September 27, 1895, page 4



HISTORY OF THE FIRST QUARTZ MILL IN OREGON.
    The mining industries in Southern Oregon have taken on new life lately. Yesterday's Oregon Mining Journal, from Grants Pass, is full of news of that section as well as of the mining history of the country. It says:
    "Jackson County had the honor of receiving the first quartz mill introduced into Oregon. The Gold Hill mine had just been discovered, and the owners were working in an arrastra quartz worth a dollar a pound. The old machine, with its cumbersome drags, lazy mules, etc., became repulsive to its owners, although they were dividing 1000 ounces of gold a week. So, in 1860, they let a milling contract to Henry Klippel, one of the firm, who went to San Francisco and purchased a 12-stamp mill, of the style then used. It had low, iron mortars, with wooden housings and six stamps working in each mortar. It was shipped by sea to Scottsburg, on the Umpqua, and hauled thence by team to Jacksonville, the steam engine and boiler accompanying. The freight bill alone was $2500, and the total cost of the mill when erected was $12,000. Its first performance was the reduction of 100 tons of refuse quartz from the vein, which had been thrown aside as too poor for the arrastra process. It yielded $100 per ton. The next run was on ordinary quartz from the mine, and much to the surprise of all it yielded only $3 a ton, owing, as was supposed, to defective amalgamation. Another run yielded only $2.40 per ton, and operations ceased. Later, the mill and engine passed into the hands of Jewett Brothers, who placed them on their mine, near Grants Pass, where they did good service for quite a while. Later still, they were converted into a sawmill. When last heard from the engine was in use at Parker's sawmill, on Big Butte Creek, in Jackson County. It should be preserved as a relic."
Oregonian, Portland, November 24, 1895, page 9



    Edgar A. Klippel, second son of Adam Klippel, who resided in Jacksonville a number of years ago, has been appointed superintendent of the O.R.&N. Co.'s telegraph system, with headquarters at Portland. He filled this responsible position during the long illness of his predecessor, Mr. Gould, in an efficient and acceptable manner. The Times congratulates him on his promotion.

"Local Notes," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, August 18, 1898, page 3


    John H. Klippel of Portland, who is still connected with the U.S. custom house, is paying his parents a visit. He has just returned from Trinity County, Calif., where he has been looking after placer mines for parties living at the metropolis.
"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 9, 1899, page 3


A REMINISCENCE
    On the 9th day of October, 1855--midnight--George Anderson rode into Jacksonville at a breakneck pace. He awakened up the people generally and imparted the news that the Indians were on the warpath and had massacred all the settlers on Rogue River from what was then known as Jewett's Ferry to Grave Creek. That a pack train with full cargo passed Wagoner's that afternoon and was attacked by the Indians. The packers, however, got their mules in hand, cut their cargo off and ran the gantlet safely from Louse Creek to Evans' Ferry on Rogue River; they lost all their cargo and one mule. These people reported that Wagoners, on Louse Creek, had not, up to their passing, been molested. G. Anderson called for volunteers to rescue Mrs. Wagoner and her daughter, a child about five years old. This was the incentive for one of the grandest rides made during that or any other Indian war. Fourteen mounted men responded to the call and were in the saddle en route inside of one hour after Anderson's alarm. This band of patriots were: John McLaughlin, A. J. Long, Charles Williams, Claus Westfeldt, James R. Peters, Wm. Morrison, John Tinnin, Joseph Copeland, George Anderson, Dr. C. Brooke, Angus Brown, Wm. Ballard, Jack Kennedy and Henry Klippel.
    We were not encumbered with blankets or provisions. The writer had to borrow a rifle and ammunition from the late Mrs. Jane McCully, who in after years often mentioned the circumstance. We rode the 28 miles before daylight, and found Major Fitzgerald with a company of dragoons from Ft. Lane, about ¾ of a mile this side of Wagoner's. His troop was dismounted, but ready to mount when ordered. We remained with the major about 20 minutes then forged on. The regulars were also in motion--with the order "Forward!" When we arrived on the ground we found the premises all burnt down. Mr. Wagoner, having safely piloted Miss Pellet [temperance lecturer Sarah Pellet] to her destination, returned to find that the Indians were on the rampage; he witnessed the burning of his house and buildings, but still did not realize fully that the savages would murder his wife and child. His last hope was, however, to be shattered. On our arrival we found the fires had burnt out, and on examination found the charred remains of Mrs. Wagoner lying across the stone hearth of the large fireplace, and also the charred remains of the little girl about ten feet off; the Indians had murdered them and then set fire to the house. Major Fitzgerald ordered some of his troopers to collect the remains and improvise a temporary vault out of brick that had been part of the chimney. Whilst this was being done Jack Long had mounted his horse and made a reconnaissance of the immediate vicinity. He gave one of those peculiar yells, which all understood--Indians! In less time than it takes to write it every volunteer was in the saddle and going to Jack Long, who by this time had gained the main traveled road leading to Jumpoff Joe. Riding up, we asked, "Where are they?" to which he answered: "They have gone into that brush (a patch of about 2 acres on the N.W. side of the road) and were on horseback." We put spur to our animals and went around the brush to head them off; we got on the north side with all the speed that was left in our jaded horses; about this time we were greeted with an Indian yell, and on looking found a band of Indians in line ready for battle. We were going so fast that I don't think we had any time to fully weigh the situation; at any rate there was no wavering. George Anderson, as brave a man as as ever lived, checked his horse for a second to shout, but the shout was "Don't stop!" nor we didn't stop. The Indians couldn't stand it any longer, broke their line and started to seek safety in flight. Seven Indians were killed, balance got away. After three or four hours' chase we returned to [the] brush patch, found a ½ barrel of whiskey and an ox killed for the occasion. The Indians had undoubtedly arranged for a good time, and it was generally believed by Major Fitzgerald and others that the Indians outgeneraled us. They ran away from the place--we after them. Result was, the Indians who were in that brush patch--probably full of firewater--had time to sober up and skedaddle. When we got back and we were tired, dry and hungry, Fitzgerald lined up his troop and allowed them to take one small cup of the ardent and no more. The troopers, who were supplied with some rations of bread and meat, divided with the volunteers. They were all good soldiers, and their horses were comparatively fresh, which made them effective during the chase of the Indians. After all had partaken of the firewater we headed towards Mr. Harris' place, a few miles north of Wagoner's. We were riding along slowly, feeling about as tired as possible for men to get, when we discovered two horsemen coming toward us at full speed, each with a woman behind him. The horsemen proved to be Claus Westfeldt and Charles Williams; the women Mrs. Harris and her daughter Sophia, the latter wounded in [the] fleshy part of [her] arm, between the elbow and shoulder. The sight of these heroic women made us forget that we had been in the saddle 12 hours or fatigued or hungry.
    Westfeldt and Williams[, who had ridden] in advance of [the] main column, found Mrs. Harris and daughter hidden in the willows and took them up on their horses. Mrs. Harris, after 36 hours' vigil and self-reliance, finding rescue an accomplished fact and after telling our boys that the Indians were at the house, then asked to be taken to a place of safety. As soon as they came up to our lines and reported the situation all of the volunteers and part of the regulars rode on to the house and surrounded it. The writer rode up to near the front door, jumped off his mule and pushed the front door open with the muzzle of his gun, and instead of Indians, saw Mr. Harris lying dead on the floor. We investigated further but found no Indians. Some of our men, who were in pursuit of the Indians, had to or did pass the house, stopped for a moment to inspect the premises and then continued to widow Niday's place. Mrs. Harris undoubtedly mistook them for Indians. The History of the Pacific Northwest has given some data of the Indian raid on Rogue River in 1855, and mentions "Levi Knott, A. J. Knott, John Ladd, J. D. Burnett, John Hulse and Alex McKay" as being present at Wagoner's on that eventful October morning. I distinctly remember Levi and Jack Knott, John Ladd, Burnett and McKay. These were interested in the pack train which ran the gantlet the afternoon previous and who returned with Major Fitzgerald. The major arrived near the Wagoner premises between 2 and 3 o'clock in the morning. Our men--the Jacksonville contingent--reached Fitzgerald's position at very early dawn, and remained but a very few minutes as heretofore stated.
Henry Klippel, as dictated to Mabel Prim, photocopy of manuscript in Rogue River Indian War vertical file, Southern Oregon Historical Society. Original in SOHS M35B, Box 5. Written sometime after the 1899 death of Jane McCully. Published in the Medford Enquirer of February 2, 1901, page 4


    On last Saturday or Monday a large deal was made of 640 acres of patented land, containing placer and quartz claims on Galls Creek, near Gold Hill, formerly known as the Klippel property. It was an all cash deal, and the buyer was F. H. Osgood of Seattle, who has also just bought property on Blue River.--Mining Journal.
Ashland Daily Tidings,
November 27, 1899


    Fred Klippel and family arrived in Medford last week from Omaha, Neb. Mr. Klippel is a son of our townsman, Hon. Henry Klippel. He will remain here until about the first of May, when he will leave for Nome, Alaska. His family, wife and two children will remain in Medford during his absence.

"Purely Personal,"
Medford Mail, April 6, 1900, page 6


    L. P. and F. W. Klippel have returned from Nome, Alaska, and are now outing at Cinnabar Springs.

"Medford," Sunday Oregonian, Portland, August 26, 1900, page 12


REMINISCENCE OF EARLY DAYS.
By "H. K."

     The writer came to Oregon in 1851 by ox team and arrived at Fosters, August 16, 1851. The journey was accomplished without any incidents worth mentioning. We halted at Raft River, the junction of the Oregon and California road, to celebrate the 4th of July. A Mr. Kellogg delivered the oration, at the close of which five teams pulled out for Oregon. Our wagon, with Messrs. Hall, Cohen and myself, Mr. Lucas and family with two wagons, and Mr. McCarney and family with two wagons. Mr. Lucas settled in Lane County; Mr. Cohen had a married daughter near Oregon City; Mr. Hall and myself had no matured plans, other than to find employment. Hall succeeded and went to work in a saw mill. I visited Oregon City, Milwaukie and Portland in quest of employment at the tinning business. At Portland I found a Mr. Starr conducting a tin shop, who upon inquiry informed me that as soon as his stock of tinplate and sheet iron arrived he would be glad to employ a journeyman tinner. I asked him when he expected his stock; he answered that from his advices it ought to arrive in two months. (The stock was shipped from New York via Cape Horn on a schooner, and with reasonable fair weather and good luck it ought to have arrived as stated.)
    Portland in August 1851 was not an attractive place and did not inspire the average home seeker with much hope or confidence in its future. After my conversation with Mr. Starr and failure to get employment I turned my back on Portland, returned to camp on the Clackamas, as "blue as indigo," disgusted and homesick. Next day I again started for Oregon City; on crossing the Clackamas ferry, Mr. Henderson, the owner, said: "Young man you are an emigrant, aren't you?" "Yes, sir." "I want someone to run this ferry on the shares; do you think you can run it?" "I think I can soon learn, but would rather work for wages than run it on the shares," and after some further talk, Mr. Henderson offered me $2 and board per day. I promptly accepted the offer and took charge of the ferry. I soon mastered the science of ferrying; matters moved along nicely until one night one of those heavy September rains raised the river above high water mark. Mr. Henderson told me the following morning not to attempt to cross until the water receded. At 11 o'clock, forenoon, the boat was hailed from the opposite bank by a man on horseback. I answered that the river was dangerously high and that my orders were not to run the ferry. The man insisted and begged to be taken over, saying that his wife was extremely ill and that he was going to Oregon City for medicine. I went to the house about 150 yards distant and asked Mr. Henderson to come to riverbank; that a man with saddle horse said that he "must cross to get medicine at Oregon City for his sick wife, etc." Mr. Henderson came. The man urged and begged him to let the boat come. Henderson replied that to cross at that stage of water was very dangerous and that he would not take the responsibility of asking the ferryman (me) to cross. I said to Mr. Henderson: "If you will not forbid my going I will bring that man over." Henderson did not say anything but went back to the house. I got into the boat, pulled up her outside rope, made fast and went to the opposite landing on the double quick. It was done so nicely that I concluded Mr. Henderson had been unnecessarily alarmed. I told the man to get aboard; the current was very strong and held corner of boat firmly to shore, hence there was no necessity of fastening boat, and the man and horse came aboard. I asked my passenger to help pull up the prow of the boat so as to enable us to return; he responded and it was about all we could both do, and just as I was in the act of fastening the pulley rope to cross lead, the two posts and cross beam to which the large rope that spanned the river was fastened, pulled out; at this instance the man let go of pulley to quiet the frightened horse. In the meantime I had succeeded in getting hold of the rope that spanned the river and held it. I called to him to help; we braced ourselves against the railing of the boat and safely drifted to the home side. The river at an average stage of water was sluggish on this side and never became as turbulent as it did on the other side. The boat after considerable hard pulling was tied up to its home landing all OK. The river ran down to a passable stage in a couple of days; the rope was put back, stretched and fastened to new posts and business proceeded as usual. About a week later a one-yoke ox team, loaded with a new cook stove and utensils, drove up to be crossed; the team stopped on top of bank on the road leading down to ferry which was very steep; I squared the boat, put chain around stake, a hickory pin through link of chain and told the man to come aboard. Instead of driving the team down, he remained standing and started the oxen down the cut alone; before the team reached boat they were going at a lively pace for oxen; the front wheels of wagon struck with such force that it broke my wooden pin. The oxen and front wheels made the boat, but before hind wheels got on, the boat left her moorings and commenced filling with water; the situation was critical. I jumped aboard, took pin out of gooseneck on tongue, backed them an instant and them made them step forward; this righted the boat, but I was minus a wagon and contents, and after a few minutes bailing with an old pan kept aboard for that purpose the oxen were taken upon the bank. The owner cussed a blue streak, but finally let me take care of his team for the night with a promise that his wagon and goods would all be recovered by 10 o'clock next morning.
    Early next morning I employed three Kanakas, who were camped near an Indian rancheria, about ½ mile below the ferry, and in less than thirty minutes they recovered everything belonging to the outfit, and the wagon was ready to hitch onto before my profane friend put in his appearance. After ferrying team across the river I said to the owner, in the way of an apology, that I was very sorry the accident had occurred and hoped that in the future nothing like it would ever occur again. He looked at me in astonishment and said: "Young man, I don't blame you, you did all-fired well to unhitch my team and let the wagon go to the devil; you saved my cattle from being drowned and that --- ------ boat from being swamped, but I want to tell you, I never crossed this --- ------ ferry in my life that some accident didn't happen."
   After the experience above related I concluded that ferrying was not my forte and told Mr. Henderson that I wanted to quit, explaining to him that I had resolved to go to California if possible. Mr. Henderson during the conversation said that a Mr. Farmer, of Oregon City, had a notice posted in town, wanting two men to drive ox teams to California. Next day I walked to Oregon City, interviewed Mr. Farmer and accepted his terms, viz: With the aid of another man to take charge and drive ox team to Yreka, without compensation, other than board.
   We left Oregon City four days later, (about September 25th, 1851) in company with Mr. Joseph Goodwin who also fitted up an ox team bound for Yreka, California. The names of the party were: Farmer, Quinn, Henry Klippel, Joseph Goodwin and Fox. Farmer's wagon was loaded with blacksmith's outfit, iron, etc. Goodwin's with billiard table and saloon fixtures both considered necessary adjuncts in a few mining camps at that time. Nothing transpired worth mentioning until we passed through Umpqua canyon. Farmer's wagon being heavily loaded, broke an axle which was replaced by another made out of a fir sapling, and answered its purpose for about two miles, when it twisted off; this occurred twice more which made our journey through canyon consume five days and necessitated the driving of our cattle out to grass. Mr. Farmer ordered me to remain with wagons. A drizzling rain or mist prevailed continuously; there never was any sunshine! Finally we pulled out and arrived at Goodwin's camp about noon of the fifth day.
    Next morning we resumed our journey and in due time arrived at and crossed Rogue River early in the morning on the Perkins ferry a few miles above the present site of Grants Pass. After crossing we drove teams about fifty yards from river and stopped; I cannot now call to mind why. Farmer's team with myself as driver was in the lead, Fox with Goodwin's team next; both were standing with their respective teams, when a young Indian about 16 years old approached Fox and asked him for tobacco. Fox responded by giving him about one-third of a fair-sized plug. The Indian took the piece and snatched the balance of plug out of Fox's hand and started to run away. Fox, however, was a sprinter himself, he overtook the Indian and plied his ox whip vigorously. Quinn and myself enjoyed the episode vastly, but looking at Mr. Farmer I noticed that he looked very much concerned; the sequel proved that there was a cause for it. In less than ten minutes from 20 to 30 Indians confronted us ready to revenge the chastisement Fox had just administered to one of their number. Matters looked decidedly squally for a minute or two. The three guns in our possession were in the hands of three of our men, and all were backed against the wagons, when Mr. Farmer, who by the way, was unarmed, commenced talking [Chinook] jargon to the Indians, offering to pay them for the injury inflicted; this pacified them, and after laying out a blanket and nearly enough provisions to fill it we were permitted to continue our journey. At the crossing of the river was the first sight we got of any Indians since our departure from Oregon City.
    We camped at Willow Springs that night, and observed three Indians, who upon close inspection proved to belong to the band that held us up in the morning. This circumstance put us on our guard; we were however unnecessarily alarmed, so next morning we hitched up our oxen and were about to start when a white man came into camp inquiring for an auger. His name was N. C. Dean, who afterwards in 1852 took a donation and made a home which is still known as the Dean ranch. After supplying Mr. Dean we drove to Sulphur Springs and camped near where the Eagle mill now stands. After all hands had partaken of supper the three Indians we saw at Willow Springs came into camp. Mr. Farmer gave them supper and chatted with them in jargon until near bed time when Mr. Farmer informed us that the Indians desired to remain with us all night and that it would do no harm to grant their request. Fox at this information beckoned to me and we stepped out of earshot, when he said: "Henry, Farmer got us out of a bad scrape yesterday morning but I fear that to permit those Indians to remain in camp overnight, will put us in a worse fix." On further consultation it was decided that I should tell Mr. Farmer that if the Indians remained in camp they must deliver up their arms, to be returned to them in the morning. Mr. F., on being informed, said he could see no objections to that, and told the Indians what they must do; they did it very reluctantly. We kept guard out as usual, and the last watch awakened us very early next morning. Our visitors were up too, and instead of waiting for breakfast, they declined. We hurried breakfast, got up the cattle and everything was ready to start when a white man rode into camp and said the Indians had attacked them, wounding two of their men, one seriously, the other severely, and that it was necessary to have a wagon to bring the wounded men away; that the Indians were numerous and were likely to renew the attack at any time. After a short consultation between Farmer and Goodwin it was decided to unload and send Mr. Farmer's wagon, including Quinn and myself. The team did not go over half a mile when we met the wounded men, with Jones as their escort. Mr. Moffit, who had been shot in the abdomen with an arrow, had ridden that far a distance of about a mile, but it was impossible to ride his mule further; his suffering was simply terrific. We placed him in the wagon together with the other man who had received a gunshot wound in the leg between the knee and thigh and, after making them both as comfortable as circumstances would admit, sent them to our camp. At this juncture of affairs a Frenchman and halfbreed rode up, both armed; they were already posted, having stopped at our camp in passing. Dan Bowen, who first notified us of the attack made by the Indians, asked the newcomers and myself to help him gather their hogs and ten head of work oxen they were driving to Yreka. He said that they had just started to travel that morning when the Indians came into camp, seeming friendly, at the concerted signal commenced the attack; that they were taken entirely by surprise; that Moffit was the first man shot; Bonny next; that Moffit had only managed before mounted his mule to start the hogs and cattle for the drive; that the Indian who shot Moffit was less than thirty feet off and behind him; that Moffit turned, drew his revolver and killed the Indian on the spot. Bonny was shot about the same time. He further stated that the killing of the Indian by Moffit disconcerted them and instead of rushing as they started into were seeking safety themselves. Continuing, he said: "When we found Moffit and Bonny were wounded we headed out into the widest part of the prairie and I was set to overtake ox team which Bonny said had passed the evening before. Now men, you have our story. There are three of us interested, Moffit, Jones and myself; we are poor men and have our all invested in this venture. I want you to help us gather up and start on the road for Yreka." The latter part of his speech was addressed more to the Frenchman and his companion than myself, who replied that they would help and I answered in the affirmative also. Moffit's mule, together with an old carbine that belonged to Bowen, was turned over to me. We started out and gathered quite a number of hogs, but in doing so had to go as far north [sic] as the butte on Colver's premises. We succeeded in collecting about 95 percent of the hogs but failed to find any of the cattle. The hogs were driven to an oak flat south of where Jim Helms now lives. This was pretty late in the afternoon; Bowen suggested that we go back to their camp and see if we could find any tracks of the cattle. We found tracks and a trail leading up Wagner Creek, followed it some distance, when we came to a place where it passed into a dense brush patch. Here the Frenchman called a halt and said: "Men, I have no doubt your cattle are in this canyon; the Indians are there also and will find us before we find them. Now I am willing to go if you say so, but think it very dangerous." It is needless to say that we took his advice and went straight to where we left the hogs and started to Yreka.
    The Frenchman and his companion, after assisting us to get under good headway, said: "You are all right now, I shall bid you goodbye." He headed north for his home in the Willamette Valley; we, with a drove of hogs, went south. Night set in before we reached Farmer's camp, who had pulled out as soon as the wounded men arrived.
    They camped that night on the first grassy bench above what was in later years known as the Mountain House. Mr. Moffit died at midnight and was buried near camp next morning at 10 o'clock, after which the teams pulled out for Yreka.
    We drove (rather our horses did) the hogs to Oak Flat somewhere above where Ashland now stands, where there was plenty of mast, and left them going about a quarter a mile north and west, unsaddled our animals to let them graze; found a tree to lean against and tried to sleep. We had no blankets and did not start a fire for prudential reasons; result was that before the following morning (October) it became very cold. I suggested to Bowen that we had better build a fire but he objected; said "the Indians might give us trouble; that we would start as soon as it was light enough to travel and that we would certainly overtake the teams before night, etc." I had no more to say. At early dawn we saddled up, and fortunately the hogs had not scattered so we got under way in good shape. Our route led through a country well watered, with plenty of mast for the pigs. We did not overtake the teams until the second day in the evening about four miles this side of Klamath River. The reason that we overtook them then, was, that a small party of Yrekans, who heard of the attack, offered assistance of Bowen and company, who by the way were Yrekans. This party after meeting our teams learned all the particulars of the attack and subsequent death of Mr. Moffit. They persuaded Messrs. Farmer and Goodwin to wait until their return. They met us near Rufus Cole's first station, below and east of his present premises, and we were very glad to meet them. All of them carried saddlebags filled with eatables, interspersed occasionally with a bottle. Bowen and Jones were acquainted with these men, hence were not backward in telling their friends to open their grub, and that we were all hungry as pirates. We ate heartily, resumed our journey and arrived in good time at the wagon camp. Next day the teams reached Yreka and I was at the end of my journey.
    I found Yreka a rich and lively mining camp. Yreka Flat, the principal mining section, in many places paid from the grass roots, and with few exceptions was more than three feet deep. The bedrock was a yellow clay. Claims were twenty-five feet square, and outside of a little mining done on Humbug and Green Horn creeks, the camp was practically unprospected. My first effort at prospecting was on Yreka Flat. I dug a pit about three feet deep. I found two small pieces of gold worth a little over $8; not finding any more, and without washing a single pan of dirt, I left it to look for better diggings.
   Winter was fast approaching, water for mining purposes scarce and only a few miners continued to work on the flat.
    A small ditch (brought from Green Horn I think) built and controlled by miners, furnished and supplied a number of claims with water. Most of the mining was done with long toms and rockers, hence did not require much water. One morning I was sauntering out of town; Deaf John, a young man about my age, accosted me and proposed a partnership, stating that he had a long tom and could get the use of the water rights, gratis. He said we could average from $6 to a half ounce, each, per night. I accepted his proposal; we went to the owners of ditch, got permission to use the water as stated. We brought up John's long tom on our shoulders, and dug a drain, sufficient to carry tom's head; made two paper lanterns and was ready to go to work at early candle lighting. We did fully as well as John said we would. However, he was not quite satisfied with the pay and wanted to quit. I prevailed on him, and he consented to keep at it until we made a winter's grubstake, after which John quit and I was compelled to.
    A week later John came to my cabin and proposed to go prospecting. We went to Canal Gulch below Yreka. I don't think anyone was mining on the gulch at that time. We found good prospects; in fact, we made pretty good wages during the time. But this did not quite suit John, hence we did not prospect further.
    During the winter I made the acquaintance of Squire Appler, who informed me that new diggings has been discovered somewhere; that men were leaving in the night to keep down suspicion; that the new mines were fabulously rich, etc. It however, soon leaked out that this latest strike was in Rogue River Valley, Oregon. Appler's enthusiasm was contagious, and I consented to go to the new Eldorado. Petzer Smith, who ran a pack train between Yreka and the Willamette Valley, agreed to take a man and his blankets to the new strike for one ounce of gold dust, the passengers to ride an aparejo. This looked like a good proposition; I paid the ounce, mounted a bronco, and experienced the toughest ride of my life. Imagine a man riding a distance of sixty miles on a barrel and you will form an idea of what it is to ride an apperaho.
    We reached Jacksonville about Feb. 20th, 1852. I felt disappointed after investigating Rich Gulch and Jackson Creek, about the only diggings that had been discovered up to that date. Rich Gulch was extremely rich; Jackson Creek both forks was only rich in places, and the prospectors, prospecting either fork, would draw a blank oftener than a prize. The camp was full of men, going and coming. In this throng, among others, I met Quinn and Bonny. Quinn, who helped me drive Farmer's team from Oregon City; the latter man that was wounded by the Indians south of Wagner Creek, and whom we afterwards hauled to Yreka. Neither having any fixed plan, it was proposed to go prospecting. Galice Creek had been talked of as a good mining camp; we started north, our purpose being to prospect every favorable-looking place en route. We finally arrived at Galice, and our finances being at a very low ebb, we settled down to hard work. We borrowed a rocker, made out of a shell of a hollow tree. I ran the rocker on the river bars, Bonny and Quinn did the prospecting. We were in this camp about three weeks and could not make grub, so we were compelled to find a better camp. We did not have ten cents among the whole outfit. We had to cross a ferry a short distance out from Galice Creek. We told the ferry man that we had no money and asked him to cross us. He seemed to doubt our statement and after considerable questioning he said: "You have a long-handled shovel, why not sell it?" The shovel cost us $16 the day we started from Jacksonville. We asked him to make us an offer; he said: "I will give you ten dollars and ferry you across the river." We accepted the offer and he paid us a ten-dollar gold piece. We endeavored to get him to pay us in smaller coin, but he refused to do so, stating "that he must keep change on hand to accommodate his business." It rained all day, our blankets got wet and heavy, so that upon our arrival to where the trail forked to go via Grave Creek to the Willamette, we camped. Bonny had determined to return to the Willamette; Quinn had no marked preference either way; I was determined to return to the mines, and in discussing the matter, Bonny among other things said, "We have ten dollars company assets for which you and myself will throw heads or tails." Quinn remarked that he would go with the $10 piece. I acquiesced, threw the piece and lost. Bonny tried to persuade me to go with them but I declined. We separated, they going north, I south. About an hour after this I was coming out of Jump Off Joe, when I heard someone hail me, and looking back saw three Indians who beckoned me to stop. I waited for them, and on arriving one of them proposed to swap for calibin (gun) and exhibited a purse about the size of a man's thumb, filled with gold specimens; this got me in the notion to swap, so I opened my pack, showed them all my worldly possessions and tried to make them understand that they could take their choice. After looking through my pack they gave me a small specimen which was worth about two dollars and took my tin bread pan, and I went on my way to Jacksonville rejoicing.
    On my return from Galice Creek, Jacksonville had already changed in appearance. The principal places of business were the round tent of Miller & Wills, situated east of the present site of the Karewski stone warehouse; W. W. Fowler, log house with canvas roof, opposite Miller & Wills' tent; one large square blue tent east of V. Schutz brewery; Kinney & Appler's clapboard house on northeast corner of Oregon and California streets; the last being the most pretentious house in town.
    It was built of shakes, the studding, plates and rafters were improvised out of fir poles; there were no sills to the house, the posts or studding were stuck in the ground, window openings were covered with canvas, doors were made out of fir poles covered with shakes. It is safe to say that not a sawed stick of timber of any description was used in the building. The vicinity was dotted with tents and camps of prospectors, prospecting for gold, resulting in developing Kanaka and Farmer flats, Missouri, Sailor and Dutch gulches, and the flat or bar upon which "One Horse Town" stood, on the right-hand fork.
    Several companies of miners were also successfully mining Big Applegate in different places, between the mouth of Little Applegate and the present location of Rial Benedict's farm. Many miners "drifted" into check mining because of the scarcity of water in the immediate vicinity of Jacksonville. Wing damming was the usual method of working the creek. Four to six men was the ordinary working force of each wing dam. This style of mining was the most practical, at that time, for river or creek mining.
    The locators of Rich Gulch made the dimensions of each claim 100 yds. long; this proved to be a prolific source of discontent and engendered much ill will among miners who came from Yreka and other points, and it looked at one time as if trouble would grow out of it; in fact many men were in favor of forcibly cutting down claims to the rules, viz.: 25 feet; however, better counsel prevailed. A ditch was dug from or near the mouth of Sailor Gulch to convey the water of the left-hand fork of Jackson Creek to Rich Gulch. After its completion mining commenced in earnest. My trip to and from Galice Creek, although traveling by "walker's line" which, by the way, is the most economical route to travel extant, nevertheless reduced my financial condition to low ebb. To remedy this I worked several days on the R.G. ditch, and afterwards on the gulch of Murphy Bros. until water failed, at the then-prevailing wages of $4 per day. My Yreka experience came in good play (thanks to Deaf John), and the shifting and setting of the long tom by tacit consent devolved upon me. The water supply for Rich Gulch commenced failing early in the summer. Our "cleanups" would yield from ten to sixteen ounces per day. The gold was the most uniform (resembling cucumber seed) in color and size, obtained in this camp. Murphy Bros. was the upper claim worked at that time, on Rich Gulch, and lacked considerable of being as rich as other claims situated lower down the gulch. The distance from our camp to town was almost one-half mile. Sunday, as now, was considered a day of rest! Miners would as a rule go to town and have a good time, see the sights, and buck the tiger. The chief place of amusement was Wills & Miller's round tent; here gambling was wide open and in full sway, monte being the principal game dealt. It was easily understood and patronized by nearly or fully seventy-five percent of the population; I presume, on the supposed theory, that to "bust" the game would keep down its evil influences. The Indians were frequent visitors to the town and, like the "Boston man," they were fond of taking the chances. On one occasion war chief Sam was a looker-on at the round tent, and after intently watching the game for a time put down a half dollar on the layout and lost it. Not in the least dismayed at the result, he continued betting until he lost all of his money; by this time the other votaries of the game ceased playing and were looking on. Sam took of his coat, vest and pants, bet them in the order named at an agreed price with the dealer and lost them all. He wore a plug hat; he took it off, looked at it, put it back on his head again and turned to leave the tent, whereupon the dealer called to him and gave him back his clothes. Chief Sam was a very large man, well proportioned, and whilst standing there in that crowded tent, minus clothes, excepting that plug hat, looked a veritable giant; indifferent to his surroundings, he evinced no chagrin at the result; on the contrary, nature's garb seemed to make him more dignified. I have often thought since, what a rare model he would have made for an artist, and what a grand picture he would have afforded the average Kodak fiend.
    The Indian war of 1852 changed the order of things materially. Miners of camps away from town were compelled to come in, Capt. J. K. Lamerick called for volunteers, and the company was organized without delay. I joined the company in that capacity of high private. The campaign was of short duration, for which result Capt. Lamerick deserved the entire credit. But there has been so much written of this war (much of it without any knowledge of the facts or care for the truth) that I shall not attempt to give a description of it. The treaty of peace made with Sam and Joe, chiefs of the Rogue River Indians at that time, was the occasion of impromptu celebration at Jacksonville. Squire Appler was the poet laureate of the occasion; his verses, I think, are preserved somewhere.
    In 1853, the Indians began war and were compelled to sue for peace. In 1855, the Indians made their last effort. Every one of these outbreaks had a tendency to retard the growth and progress of this valley.
    In closing, I wish to state that in my opinion the Rogue Rivers were the most warlike Indians on this coast. Chief John, who outranked Sam in 1855-56, was a general; in fact, he never risked a battle unless it was upon grounds of his own selection; he contended against an odds of four to one, and with all these handicaps was able to keep up the esprit of his followers and worst the Bostons over half the time.

Medford Enquirer, starting February 16, 1901, page 4


    We are sorry to learn that Henry Klippel is seriously ill at his home in this city with pneumonia. He was taken ill last week, and on Monday suffered a hemorrhage of the lungs, since which time his condition was been critical. Dr. Stephenson is the attending physician.
"Additional Local," Medford Mail, April 5, 1901, page 6


AN INDIAN TRADITION.
Claiming that the Rock in a Particular Locality
on the Siskiyou Mountains Contained the Devil.
The Indians Having Camped There Lost Their Hair and Teeth--
That Their Horses Were Similarly Afflicted--
This Led to the Prospecting for and Discovery of Cinnabar in the Siskiyous.

(By HENRY KLIPPEL.)
    In 1873, D. B. Rea, Miles F. Alcorn, J. D. Coughlin and the writer concluded to seek and if possible to "run down this story," and in this behalf employed three Indians to show us the locality--an old Indian man and woman and a boy named Jim, about 16 years old. Our pilots took us to Dunnimore [Donomore] ranch on the summit of the Siskiyous. Dunnimore was a fine camp, and we concluded to rest our horses and look around. Our guides did not seem so certain of finding the "devil rock," at any rate we could get no information from them indicating the direction of the locality we were seeking. After resting two days we resumed our ride; the Indian boy came with us, but the old people pretended to be afraid to go further. Jim, who spoke good English, said that the old folks had informed him how to find the place we were looking for and that he would pilot us to it.
    We traveled easterly, keeping on the south side of the summit until we were abreast of Red Mountain, when we turned south and soon thereafter camped. Our guide seemed not so confident of finding the place as in the morning. By this time we all felt that there was nothing in this Indian story, and concluded to have an outing of a few weeks in a most delightful region, abounding in game, fish, the best of water, abundant grass, and by going on to the summit the scenery was grand indeed. Looking south, Mt. Shasta loomed up in grandeur; east, Mt. Pitt; in the far west, the Coast Range; in the north, Diamond and other snow-capped peaks. Our camp was always supplied with fresh venison, and very often with a nice mess of brook trout. In order to procure the latter we would go into the canyons and headwaters of Beaver Creek. Finding it hard work to fish down and up these streams, we concluded to move camp down to a soda spring on the Lick Fork of Beaver Creek, which was hereafter named Klippel Spring, an excellent quality of soda water. Our prospecting project was secondary--fun and a good time had the call. However, one day someone in the camp panned a pan of sand taken from the junction of Dunnimore and Lick forks of Beaver Creek which yielded about ½ ounce of float cinnabar 60% fine. This circumstance put us all to prospecting and looking for the Indian's "devil rock."
    The east bank of Lick Fork has a very distinct wall of peculiar-looking rock which we took to be cinnabar rock. We decided to run a tunnel into it and await results. John Cimborski was put in charge, with Woolie as helper. We supplied them with tools and provisions and they soon made a good showing; struck ore that resembled pyrites of iron, and a soft stratum of clay that had a silver sheen to it and was odorous. The men said it "smelt like medicine." We had an analytical assay made of this material and found it to contain "bismuth" and of no commercial value. This result, of course, cooled our ardor. We closed down the works, sent our workmen and most of the tools out, leaving the wheelbarrow in the tunnel as a notice to whom it might concern that we did not abandon any rights.
    In panning the creek gravel we collected about three pints of washed cinnabar and left it lying on the bank of the creek in camp. Indian Jim asked me one day if that was what we were looking for, pointing to the cinnabar. I evaded his question. Rea, who was present, asked him, "Why do you want to know?" Jim assured us that he knew where there was "lots of it," and on being further questioned he said it was west of the camp and it would three or four days to go there. "It was near Forked Horn Mountain that a lake containing one-eyed fish was near the summit, Indians not over two feet high were abundant and bad in that vicinity." Rea, after hearing Jim's story, wanted to go forthwith and insisted that I should go too. Next morning bright and early we rode out of camp for the forked mountain; our route lay on the extreme summit of the Siskiyous going west; there was no trail anywhere, besides being very rough and dangerous in places.
    Night overtook us on the second day's travel before we camped, and we had to make torches to prospect for water, which we finally succeeded in finding. About 2 o'clock of the fourth day we were on the summit of Forked Horn Mountain, as rough a place as there is in the Siskiyou Mountains. We were compelled to go down an abrupt spur to get to grass and water; we made it by leading the pack mule and riding horses. We fixed up camp, killed a fine buck and concluded to rest that afternoon.
(To be continued.)
Medford Enquirer, April 20, 1901, page 4


AN INDIAN TRADITION.
Claiming that the Rock in a Particular Locality
on the Siskiyou Mountains Contained the Devil.
The Indians Having Camped There Lost Their Hair and Teeth--
That Their Horses Were Similarly Afflicted--
This Led to the Prospecting for and Discovery of Cinnabar in the Siskiyous.

(By HENRY KLIPPEL.)
    Next morning after breakfast Jim piloted us to the fields of cinnabar. The place was about ¾ of a mile distant. Jim led; we followed leisurely. Jim walked fast and got ahead of us about one hundred and fifty yards, and when we overtook him he was seated near a gulch that made up into the mountain. Jim remarked, "This is the place." We commenced looking for cinnabar and sure enough found many specimens of washed cinnabar. To say that we were elated does not express it. Rea, an enthusiast at any time, was completely carried away at our streak of good (?) luck. We gathered a handful each and I went up the gulch some distance but did not find any more specimens, nor could I discover its source; Rea in the meantime had succeeded in finding about all the float in sight. We started for camp, Rea still feeling well over our find. I told Jim to go to camp, build a fire and get dinner under way--that Rea and myself would come soon. After his departure I sat down and asked Rea to do so. We discussed the find and he thought it very remarkable that we could not find any more specimens but thought there must be plenty of quicksilver nearby. I took from my pocket the specimen of cinnabar and asked Rea to examine it closely; he did so, but said he could see nothing different from other ore. I finally said, "Rea, don't you understand that we have been duped by Jim?" R. said he didn't quite catch my meaning. Well, to make the matter short, I replied, "Don't it strike you that these specimens look like Beaver Creek cinnabar, that in fact they are one and the same? Besides, do you think for a minute that we could have scratched and looked for more and not find any, no any indication of any?" "Well, well, light is breaking--it's as plain as a pikestaff to me now! I'll go to camp forthwith and baste that rascal so his mother wouldn't know him." "What good will that do? It will only make him our enemy, and he will probably steal one of our horses or do us some other damage; wait until we get back to Beaver and I will quietly discharge him without allusion to this trip. We will go to camp by way of the lake with the one-eyed fish and perhaps we may capture one of those lilliputian Indians and get even on this trip by exhibiting him." This raillery put Rea in a splendid good humor, and by the time we reached camp everything was serene--Jim more so than either Rea or myself. We ate a hearty dinner, got our horses ready to saddle, when we concluded to cut the bone out of the hams and backbone out of the deer we had killed the evening before. Jim demurred to taking anything out of camp, stating that we were allowed to kill and use all the deer we needed, but that bad luck would be our lot if we took any away with us. I told him we would chance it, and to complete the work, to sack the meat and get ready to pack up. I examined the place we came down and concluded we could not better it--mounted my horse and had Rea give me the rope of the pack mule and started out, the mule following. I had got about halfway up when the pack mule fell and rolled to the bottom. I rode my horse near the summit, fastened him and returned to see how much damage was done. The mule was not injured; the pack saddle resembled a bunch of kindling wood; frying pan and coffee pot were smashed and everything in the shape of tinware was ruined. Rea caught the mule in order to free it from the wreck; Jim stood by complacently holding his and Rea's horse. I called to him to come up and lend a hand; he came up and his first utterance was, "I told you it was bad luck to pack meat out of this camp." We fortunately had two surcingles with us which enabled us to fasten our blankets on the mule. We made three parcels out of the venison and tied it behind our riding saddles, Jim's horse taking the largest package. We made camp on Beaver Creek in less than three days.
    Soon after this we started for Jacksonville, and the Indian tradition spoken of herein was put down as a myth. The Siskiyou Mountains, however, had become famous as a health resort and camping place. The springs in that vicinity proved to be remedial for many ills and especially for scrofula and kindred ailments. Nothing of importance transpired in the way of finding the "devil's rock" until two years later when the following company went into Cinnabar via Coles, in April 1875, viz: Wilbur Cornell, John S. Miller, Wm. M. Turner and Henry Klippel. We camped at the Klippel Springs and commenced prospecting systematically. We commenced panning in the creek a short distance below camp and continued doing so until we struck the mouth of a blind gulch on the west bank above our camp where the float gave out. We turned up the gulch [and] found float cinnabar in the gulch. We (four men with pans) panned up the slope of the mountain, washing our dirt in the gulch, the prospects getting better and heavier until we struck what is known as the retort float, where we found pieces of cinnabar weighing as high as six pounds, 66% fine; we found many very handsome specimens. The whole thing was accomplished before noon of the first day. The writer has not the SHADOW of a DOUBT of the truth of the Indian tradition. The manner of building fires by the Indians in their tepees, or even out in the open air, and lying with their heads to the fire as they usually do, would if built on the rock or specimen cinnabar, "salivate" an entire tribe. This is also true of their horses. They build smudge fires to keep the gnats off their horses; what is to hinder the horses from getting a dose of the fumes of mercury? The Indians that undertook to pilot us to the section containing the "devil rock" took us to a quicksilver country; they did not know the exact locality, but everything goes to prove that the tradition is true.
    But I have digressed enough and must resume my narrative. The next morning after finding our prospect we packed our tools, provisions and blankets onto the ground; we made no provision for a wheelbarrow and started to look up the one taken in there two years before. It was in the tunnel all right, but had a mining notice on it, claiming the tunnel, etc. We were in a dilemma; we did not want to tear down the man's notice, neither were we inclined to give up the wheelbarrow. Finally John S. Miller solved the problem by saying, "They can't JUMP a man's wheelbarrow," and thereupon proceeded to place wheelbarrow, notice and all, on his pack horse. We all felt as if we had a bonanza; built a road from the Klamath side, brought in a retort weighing 2000 pounds, commenced making quicksilver. Quicksilver was selling at $1.50 per pound when we commenced making it. Twenty flasks glutted the Yreka and Jacksonville markets, which compelled us to ship the balance of our output to San Francisco. Portland at that time (1875) did not to any great extent figure in miners' supplies. After packing the quicksilver from the mine to Phil Gleaves on the Applegate, we hauled it to Jacksonville, thence to Roseburg, thence by rail to Portland, thence by steamer to San Francisco where we had to sell at 35 cents per pound. This of course did not pay. We shipped about 240 flasks to San Francisco and quit.
Medford Enquirer, April 27, 1901, page 4


    Writing reminiscently of events leading up to the Civil War, C. E. Cline, in the Oregonian of April 19th, says: "The first man, I think, beyond all doubt, to enlist in 1861, was Jacob Klippel, formerly a resident of Portland, now somewhere in the mines of Southern Oregon, perhaps in Josephine County. He was sitting in the operator's office in Springfield, Ill., when the ticking of the machine on the evening of the 15th announced to Governor Yates the call for troops. Springing to his feet, Klippel shouted: 'I enlist here and now,' and before going to bed Captain John Cook, of Springfield, afterward colonel of the regiment, had a full company organized. The next day by noon Company D, Captain B. M. Munn, arrived from Litchfield. To this company I, a mere boy, belonged. We were off at once to hold the arsenal at St. Louis, which the rebels were trying hard to secure, and the awful conflict was on. I forgot to say that Jake Klippel, the first volunteer in the Civil War, receives no pension; and the writer has recently been granted from this on $6 per month. Klippel has a brother in Portland, the Rev. Adam Klippel, who traveled hard circuits in Illinois a half-century and more ago, along with the famous Peter Cartwright. Rev. Mr. Klippel also enjoyed the closest friendship of Abraham Lincoln, as some letters now in his possession from the great commoner clearly show." Jake Klippel is also a brother of Henry Klippel, of this city.

"City Happenings," Medford Mail, April 26, 1901, page 7   The article appeared on page 5 of the Oregonian.



DEATH OF HENRY KLIPPEL.
Oregon Pioneer and Leading Citizen of Southern Part of the State.
    MEDFORD, Nov. 2.--Henry Klippel, one of the most prominent men in Southern Oregon, and the oldest male member of the Pioneer Society of Southern Oregon, died suddenly at his home in East Medford this morning of heart failure, aged 67. Mr. Klippel was born in Weckenheim, Germany, December 6, 1833. He came with his parents to America in 1851, and arrived at Foster's, on the Clackamas River, August 16 the same year. He married Miss Elizabeth Bigham, January 24, 1860, who, with five children, survives him. Funeral services will be held at the residence Tuesday, Rev. Mr. Jones, of Jacksonville, officiating. Interment will be in the Jacksonville cemetery, under the auspices of the Jacksonville lodge, I.O.O.F.
Sunday Oregonian, Portland, November 3, 1901, page 6



Henry Klippel, DAR scrapbook
   MEDFORD, Or., Nov. 4.--Henry Klippel died Saturday, at the age of 67 years. He was the oldest member of the Southern Oregon Pioneer Society. His birthplace was Wickenheim, Germany. In 1837 he came with his parents to America, and the family settled at Cincinnati, O., where his father died. The family then moved to St. Joseph, Mo. Mr. Klippel crossed the plains with ox team in 1851. He arrived at Foster's, on the Clackamas River, in August of the same year. In 1860 he married Miss Elizabeth A. Bigham. She and five sons--John, of Portland; Lannes, of Summer Lake, Or.; Fred, of Denver; Henry, of Alaska, and Allie, of Medford--survive him.
   Mr. Klippel was one of the most active and prominent citizens of Southern Oregon. He was part owner of the Gold Hill mine, and was interested in the first quartz mill in the state. He was the first Recorder of Jacksonville, and afterward president of the Board of Trustees. He was elected Sheriff of Jackson County in 1870, and two years later was appointed to the commission which built the Capitol at Salem. In 1874 Mr. Klippel was made Capitol Commissioner. The same year he was chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. In 1876 he was nominated as a Tilden elector. He and a company dug a water ditch from Squaw Lake to Applegate in 1877, where mines were operated under his direction. He became County Clerk in 1880, and was re-elected two years later.
   Funeral services will be held tomorrow. Burial will be in Jacksonville Cemetery, under the auspices of Jacksonville Lodge, No. 10, I.O.O.F.
Morning Oregonian, Portland, November 5, 1901, page 4



     The funeral of the late Henry Klippel, which took place in Jacksonville Tuesday, was largely attended. There was a large number of members of A.O.U.W. and I.O.O.F. in the procession, which was augmented by the teachers and pupils of our public school, as also many of the friends of the deceased. The religious services were conducted by Rev. S. H. Jones.

 "Local Notes,"
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 7, 1901, page 5


     Henry Klippel, one of the pioneers of southern Oregon, died suddenly at his residence in Medford last Saturday morning. He had been ailing for many years from heart disease, and his death was not entirely unexpected. Mr. K. was one of the earliest pioneers of southern Oregon, having come to Jacksonville in the early fifties. The remains will be buried in the Jacksonville cemetery Tuesday by the I.O.O.F. and A.O.U.W., of which orders he was a member.

 "Local Notes,"
Democratic Times, Jacksonville, November 7, 1901, page 7


Death of Hon. Henry Klippel.
    Hon. Henry Klippel, a pioneer of Southern Oregon, died very suddenly of heart disease, at his home in Medford, on Saturday, November 2, 1901, aged 67 years, ten months and twenty-six days. Funeral services were conducted on Tuesday of this week by members of Jacksonville lodge No. 10, I.O.O.F., of which he was a member, assisted by Medford lodge of the same order. Deceased was also a member of A.O.U.W. Interment was made in Jacksonville cemetery.
    A biographical sketch of Mr. Klippel's life is being prepared by a Mail representative and will appear in these columns later.
Medford Mail, November 8, 1901, page 2


    The funeral of Hon. Henry Klippel, on Tuesday of this week, was largely attended, a great many of the pioneers coming from a distance to pay their last tribute of respect to their deceased friend. Rev. S. H. Jones, of Jacksonville, officiated at the services at the home in Medford. The large cortege was joined at the court house square by the members of the I.O.O.F. lodge, and on California Street by the members of the A.O.U.W. A large assemblage of people awaited the long procession at the cemetery, where the concluding services were conducted by the above-mentioned fraternal orders. Mayor W. S. Crowell, of Medford, gave a brief sketch of the life of the deceased brother and spoke very commendably of his many splendid characteristics, while the beautiful and impressive burial service of the I.O.O.F. was led by Silas J. Day. The singing of the hymn, "My Jesus, as Thou Wilt," by the Medford choir, and an ode by members of the I.O.O.F. closed the sad rites, and another of the pioneer band was left to sleep peacefully beneath the wealth of beautiful flowers which covered the grave.
"Jacksonville News," Medford Mail, November 8, 1901, page 3


    Henry and John Klippel, of Portland, were in Medford this week in attendance at the funeral of their father, Henry Klippel. Rev. Adam Klippel, of Portland, and Jacob Klippel, of Althouse, brothers of deceased, were also here.
"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, November 8, 1901, page 6                                      
 
Tribute to Memory of Henry Klippel. 
Henry Klippel    Henry Klippel, the subject of this sketch, was born in Wachenheim, Germany, Dec. 11, 1833, and died at the family residence in Medford, Oregon, Nov. 2, 1901, aged sixty-seven years, ten months and twenty-one days. Mr. Klippel's parents moved from Germany to the United States in 1837 and settled at Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father died. Later the family removed to St. Joseph, Missouri. From here in 1851, Mr. Klippel, then but a boy, crossed the plains to Oregon, arriving in the Willamette Valley about the middle of August. He remained in the Willamette but a short time when he made the acquaintance of a gentleman who was going to California. Full of vigor and energy and dominated by that nervous ambition for which he was noted, he was anxious to try his fortune in the gold fields of California, and the two made the hazardous trip together. They came out through the Umpqua and Rogue River valleys, successfully eluding the hostile Indians, with which the route was infested, and arrived safely at Yreka late in December. Yreka was then a new and promising mining camp, and Mr. Klippel at once engaged in mining. His success, however, was not such as to satisfy his ambition, and when the news of the fabulous discoveries on Rich Gulch reached Yreka he came with the tide to Jacksonville. Here he mined at intervals with more or less success in the various mining camps of the district, but always made his headquarters and home at Jacksonville, where he was generally associated with others in some kind of business.
   Before reviewing Mr. Klippel's personal and political history, it may be well to pause for a moment and note the conditions which existed here when he first reached the valley.
   The immigration to the Pacific coast at that time was drawn here wholly by the discoveries of gold in California and the generous offer of the government of large tracts of land, under the Donation Act, to such persons as would settle here and take possession of the country. When the avalanche of cosmopolitan people first flowed into the valley through the excitement occasioned by the discoveries of gold on Rich Gulch, the practical and discriminating pioneer saw here a rare and inviting field rich in every element that goes to make up happy homes, encouragement for the investment of capital and promise of unlimited industrial employment. He saw the beautiful valley, teeming with luxuriant grasses, lying unadorned in its mountain fastness like an uncut gem in its native bed. He saw here untold possibilities of soil and resource, looked in admiration upon the wild and weird witchery of the scenery, stood in awe of the lofty snow-clad sentinels that kept their vigils over the valley and breathed with inspiration the health-giving draught of a pure mountain atmosphere. He saw this goodly land in all its wealth and beauty and said, "Here will we abide, for the royal sun that rises in the east and sheds his roseate light over the sleeping earth looks not down on a fairer land than this." Here, at the limit of western empire, where he sinks to rest in the swells of ocean that stay the onward march of Saxon conquest, and tints the binding horizon with a saffron glow of indescribable beauty; here where a peerless Eden, untouched save by the stealthy foot of the savage, awaited the magic touch of civilization to make it smile in plenty and blossom as the rose, the pioneer resolved to pitch his tent and begin anew the struggles of life. It seemed a little world locked in the bosom of ragged hills, and far removed from the strife and turmoil that lash and clash in the political and commercial relations of men in the populous centers. Here, amid an unbroken circle that lent inspiration and enchantment to the view, it seemed that Nature had displayed her most charming and picturesque handiwork. So unfailing appeared the admiration of this unequalled picture that it possessed to the early settler an abiding fascination. The rapt beholder, accustomed to the monotony of the unbroken level which prevails in many of the central states, could but feast his eyes and marvel at the royal richness of the resplendent scene. No other than the all-sufficing hand of Nature could have fashioned the rock-ribbed hills which enclose and form the background of this gem of the Pacific. The Abyssinian retreat of Rasselas, with its ever-present fruits and flowers, its ceaseless round of pleasure and immunity from labor and anxiety, where perennial founts scattered their silvery spray amid a world of bloom and fragrance; where all the blessings of life were centered and evils eliminated--this matchless realm of the author's fancy with all its prodigal imagery and exemption from the struggles and disappointments of life, could hardly have been more attractive or desirable as a dwelling place than the happy reality that here engaged the eye and riveted the attention of the weary and travel-worn homeseeker. The passing traveler who camped here to rest and recuperate surveyed in wonder and admiration the broad valley, the undulating plain, the wooded slopes, the dense forests, the silvery streams, the snow-clad mountains, and why not?--for where beneath the bending Heavens, studded with gems of fadeless beauty, and spread out like a canopy of love over the inhabitants of earth, could a fairer land than this be found?
   Mr. Klippel was one of the van who was privileged to see this blooming wilderness, untouched save by the foot of the savage, wrested from its barbarous occupants, and wrought into rich fields of waving grain, and dotted over with happy homes by the transforming hand of culture. He saw it advance with rapid strides under the industrial and civic arts, and become a live, bustling commercial center, and an important factor in the social, political and business interests of a great and growing commonwealth. He saw the spirit of social organization, supplemented by the acknowledgment of the common brotherhood of man, take possession of and mould, refine and assimilate the incongruous mass of chaotic humanity that flocked here from every quarter of the earth, and a healthy Christian civilization develop from the anomalous composite like a beautiful flower from a heap of compost. He saw law and order and civic virtue take the place of savage superstition, and wealth and culture supplant the rude wigwam with the handsome, comfortable dwelling.
   Mr. Klippel was always active, restless, a lover of excitement, full of public spirit and ready to lend his hand and influence in furtherance of every enterprise that promised results. Though never a volunteer, he was yet a prominent figure in all the Indian wars. He was present at the Peace Conference on Rogue River in 1853; was engaged in the battle of the Table Rocks; participated in the fight at Hungry Hill, Oct. 30, 1855 [sic], where the whites were practically beaten, and nine men killed and twenty-odd wounded. He assisted at the siege of the cabins on Applegate in January 1856 and was one of the relief party that rescued Mrs. Harris and her daughter after the massacre of twenty persons between Grants Pass and Grave Creek, Oct. 9, 1855. He was part owner of the famous Gold Hill discovery of 1860, and built the first stamp mill near this mine ever shipped to Oregon. This rich deposit proved to be only a pocket and was soon exhausted, and as the quartz industry at that time was in its infancy and wages high, the little then known of treating low-grade and refractory ores rendered the operation of the mill unprofitable, and Mr. Klippel lost heavily by the venture. He was one of the discoverers of the rich cinnabar deposit near the state line, from which a large amount of quicksilver was retorted and shipped to Jacksonville, and the locality of which has since become famous for its medical springs.
   Endowed with a buoyant hope and a restless energy that constantly overtaxed his strength, he was in the van of every excitement--lived in an atmosphere of expectation, and yielded his judgment to none in the examination of a proposition for investment.
   In 1860, after returning from a mining venture in Idaho in which he was measurably successful, he engaged in the hardware business in Jacksonville with the late Wm. Hoffman, the partnership continuing for six years. In 1870 he was elected sheriff of the county and at the close of his term was appointed by Governor Grover one of the state capitol commissioners for the construction of the statehouse. After the first year, he was chosen president of the board. His term having expired upon the assembling of the legislature of 1874, he was re-elected to the position by joint session of that body on the first ballot. He was chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee in 1874, and nominated a Tilden elector in 1876. J. W. Watt, a federal official who was chosen one of the electors by the Republican Party, was regarded by Democrats as ineligible to the position. This caused the meeting of two electoral colleges at Salem, and a certificate of election being given to a Democrat. This action created a national squabble over the duplicated electoral vote, and Mr. Klippel with others was summoned to Washington to appear before the Senate investigating committee. Here he met and made the acquaintance of Senator Morton, of Indiana, who was chairman of the committee. His description of the distinguished senator, who was at that time the most conspicuous figure in American politics, was graphic and entertaining in the highest degree. His distinguishing peculiarities, as noted by Mr. Klippel, were a broad and massive head and a short, stubby nose that manifested a persistent disposition to "turn up," as though the common things of earth offended it.
   When the report reached Jacksonville of the probable murder of the Ledford party at Rancherie Prairie by Indians in April 1859, Mr. Klippel and John Hillman immediately raised a company of thirty men and went out to investigate the matter. On arriving at the scene they soon found the horses of the party tied to trees and shot. Further search revealed the bodies of four of the victims buried in a column of brush a short distance away. From the character of the wounds on the dead, it was evident that the Indians had slipped up to the camp and murdered the party while asleep. Ledford's body was not found. Some years later, however, human bones were found in a swamp about a half a mile away, where it is supposed he fled and either died from his wounds or was killed by his pursuers. The company remained in the vicinity of the massacre about a months searching for the murderers, but so securely had they covered their tracks that no trace of them was ever found. It would be interesting indeed to give the tragic sequel to this murder and show how two of the instigators of the crime met violent deaths the same day though a hundred miles apart, but it would make this article too long.
   Personally, Mr. Klippel was reticent, reserved, unassuming, dignified, discriminating in his social intercourse, of high personal character, and sensitive to a degree in all matters touching his honor and integrity. He was gifted with a superior mental endowment and was a close student of the classics. He was polished in address, suave in disposition, adroit in diplomacy and inherited a social ease and grace which made him a most pleasant and agreeable companion. His life was on a high plane, and he was incapable of descending to anything light or trivial. He had no patience with dissimulation, and while cautious and discreet, was open and candid with his friends. Honesty and frankness are conceded to be indispensable in every walk of life. No man can long take refuge behind a false pretense. His true status will unawares reveal itself, and the man as he is appear in relief as though sketched upon canvas. When motives and purposes are insincere, and counter to the verities of truth and right, their falsity defeats their object, and any pretended effort at higher and better endeavor must be barren of results. No one devoid of the polite amenities which distinguish the gentleman from the boor can successfully simulate the social virtues that adorn and elevate humanity. The impression a man makes upon his fellows is the true measure of his character, whether it be good or bad.
   Mr. Klippel was always a Democrat, intensely American, loyal to the core, and believed in the largest liberty to the largest number. He was a born leader of men, an adept in political finesse, alert and successful as a politician, and an organizer whose acknowledged ability arrayed against him every element not in accord with his purposes. He was the recognized head of his party for thirty years, and during this period a target for the pungent shafts of envy and abuse which have come to be the penalty for all political prominence. He who should have been privileged to stand upon Mr. Klippel's shoulders would have surveyed a vast range of practical knowledge. His vision would have been as from a mountaintop over sweeping stretches of well-gleaned fields where a wise discrimination had accumulated a rich store of varied information.
   He was elected county clerk in 1880, and re-elected in 1882.
   In 1860 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Bigham, the union being blessed with six children, all of whom are living but one, George Ivan, who died Feb. 23, 1884, when a little past five years old.
   Mr. Klippel was a prominent Odd Fellow for many years, and a charter member of the Jacksonville lodge of Workmen and at the date of his death a member of the Medford city council.
   The history of Southern Oregon could not be written without frequent and honorable mention of Mr. Klippel's name. It is not the "hail fellow well met" with a light head and a lighter responsibility that makes the world wiser and better, but the sincere and thoughtful man whose moral current runs deep, and whose influence and example inspire to greater and grander achievements. The benefactors and promoters of progress among men are those whose earnest and consistent lives verify and consecrate their work. The man who leaves a legacy of courage, honor, integrity and virtue in the memory of his fellows may well be satisfied with a life-work well and faithfully done. Such was Mr. Klippel.
   And now may He who strung with matchless pearls the azure of the Milky Way and attuned the gentle Pleiades to the harmony of a perfect world, rest his immortal soul in peace.
Medford Mail, November 15, 1901, page 2

 
 
IN MEMORY OF HENRY KLIPPEL,
 Pioneer, Soldier and Citizen
 Prominent Miner and a Noted Leader Among Those Sterling Democrats
 Who Laid the Foundation of this Great State of Oregon.
  Henry Klippel, one of the best known pioneers of Southern Oregon, and for many years a leading Democrat, died suddenly at his home in Medford Saturday morning Nov. 2nd of heart disease, aged 67 years, 10 months and 26 days.
   Henry Klippel was born in Wickenheim, Germany, December 16, 1833, and when 4 years of age came with his parents to America, they settling near Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father died. Here he received a common school education and, what was probably better, learned political economy in the office of Salmon P. Chase and ex-Governor Hoadly of Ohio. Afterwards the family moved to St. Joseph, Mo. In 1851 Mr. Klippel crossed the plains with the early emigration of that year and arrived in the Willamette Valley August 1st [sic] of the same year. He remained there but a few weeks when he was attracted by the mining excitement in Jackson and Siskiyou counties and spent the winter in the vicinity of Yreka, going to Jacksonville in February, 1852.
   In the Rogue River Indian War of 1852 he took an active part, and went through nearly every fight, being present at the battle of "Hungry Hill." [The battle of Hungry Hill took place October 31, 1855.] He also took an active part in the campaigns against the Indians in 1853-5. For many years he followed the mining industry in Jackson and Josephine counties; was one of the original owners of the famous Gold Hill mine, and he it was who in 1860 brought to Oregon the first quartz mill.
   During the '60s he spent some time prospecting in Idaho, but returned again to Jacksonville, where he was engaged for several years with Wm. Hoffman in the hardware business. He was also in the late '60s and early '70s with others engaged in the publication of what is now known as the Jacksonville Times, then, we believe, called the Oregon Sentinel. [The Democratic Times and Oregon Sentinel were two separate newspapers.] When Jacksonville was incorporated he was elected its first city recorder and afterwards served as president of the council. In 1870 he was elected sheriff of Jackson County on the Democratic ticket and in 1872 was appointed by Governor Lafayette Grover one of the commissioners for the construction of the present Oregon State Capitol at Salem, in which position he served until 1874, when he returned to Jacksonville and built a quartz mill with the Hon. C. C. Beekman on the Jewett mine. In 1874 Mr. Klippel was chairman of the Democratic state central committee, and in 1876 he was a candidate on his party ticket as a Tilden presidential elector. In 1880 he was elected county clerk of Jackson County and re-elected in 1882. Mr. Klippel was extensively engaged in placer mining on the Applegate and built a ditch from Squaw Lake for a company operating those mines in 1878 and had charge of the property until 1880. He was one of the discoverers and promoters of the Emeline cinnabar mines near the state boundary line which were worked as long as they were profitable with the appliances at command. Mr. Klippel was also during the '90s appointed to fill an unexpired term as county assessor, which office he filled with the same capability which was always characteristic of the man.
   For several years after his removal to Medford he was engaged in the saw milling business. At the last city election he was elected city councilman and was an active member up to the day of his death.
   Mr. Klippel was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Bigham, Jan. 24, 1860, and Mrs. Klippel, four sons and one daughter survive him--Lannes of Summer Lake, Ore.; John, of Portland; Fred, of Denver, Colo.; Henry, who has lately been residing in Eastern Oregon, and Miss Allie of Medford.
   Services were held at the residence Tuesday, at 1 p.m. by Rev. S. H. Jones of Jacksonville, whose remarks were well made. The remains were then taken in charge by Jacksonville Lodge No. 10, I.O.O.F., of which he was a member, assisted by Medford Lodge, and under whose auspices the services at the grave were conducted. Fully 1000 people were present at the cemetery. Mr. Klippel was a member of Jacksonville Lodge A.O.U.W., whose members also turned out to pay the last sad rites.
   We could say much of the noble qualities of Henry Klippel, for we cherished him as one of our dearest friends, but we could not improve on the remarks made by Judge Wm. S. Crowell at the cemetery and which we append to this brief sketch. Suffice it for us to say, as a friend, husband, father, citizen, he was always generous, true and noble, and in all his long political career he never stooped to little things. He loved this country, and often have we heard him express himself as to his attachment to our beautiful valley. And as a fitting sentiment he was laid to rest in the beautiful Jacksonville Cemetery, at a spot where you can stand and look out over the valley whose scenes and history he loved and knew so well.
 
(THE FOLLOWING IS THE ABLE ADDRESS BY JUDGE CROWELL.)
 
   It is finished. It has begun. For Brother Henry Klippel, Time is finished. For him Eternity has begun. Mortality has ended. Immortality has begun.
   For the third time in two short years I have had the solemn duty of standing beside the bier of a dear old friend, to speak the farewell words that never come with such thrilling force, such depth of meaning as when spoken at a moment like this. Each was the friend of the others, all were friends of mine.
   Henry Klippel has passed to the beyond. Looking over his past, I am led to reflect that it is environment and opportunity that make men great. Had Henry Klippel lived in some great eastern center of population and influence, he would have been known and honored throughout the land. But in remote Oregon, with lesser opportunities, he was known and respected throughout the state. Given the opportunity, he had within him the elements which make men renowned. His untiring energy; his unflagging fidelity to his friends; his honor and integrity; his sincerity and absolute truthfulness equipped him gloriously for success in larger fields and greater events than the state and locality in which he lived could furnish. Such as man as he must have warm friends and intense opponents. No man of positive character and unfailing integrity can escape enmity and detraction, all of which is largely the result of partisan rather than personal animosity.
   It has been said, "If a man is of any account in a community, you may know it by the enemies which he has made." And again it has been said, and well said, "that in the unceasing warfare between right and wrong, if you can write upon a man's tombstone 'He died without an enemy,' you may also safely inscribe upon the other side of his monument "And he did nothing for the good of mankind."
   Henry Klippel had to be intimately known to duly appreciate his grand and stalwart manhood; and none who knew him as I and others knew him, and the salient features of his grand character, can ever forget that he was always true to his friends, just to his opponents, fond of his family, and loyal to his convictions of right and duty.
   To his mourning family he leaves a priceless legacy of intrinsic worth, which in the shadows of this trying hour will shed around them the subtle and all-embracing spirit of a blessed comfort.
   When our race is run, and well run, there may be sadness, but there is no cause of mourning, as when one mourns who is without hope. There are abundant grounds for hope. This tenement of clay is laid to rest with reverential respect and affection, and as we do so, our mortal lips may murmur, "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, and dust to dust." But we must not forget that this tenement of clay was made in the likeness of God, our Father, to be but the temporary and earthly habitation of a life, a soul, an immortal spirit, earthbound but traveling towards immortality. The spirit of Henry Klippel has gone to the Divine Father who gave it as a habitation upon earth, this likeness of Himself, in clay; I cannot think that God, the Father, who honors us with such a home for the soul's earthly dwelling, will not provide for that spirit, in His own way, when He calls that spirit hence, let us believe, "to a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Even so, be comforted, "for death is swallowed up in victory." The seed of the fruit, the seed of the flowers, the seed of the standing corn and of the waving grain, yea, all the wonders of nature, do symbol forth to man, that DEATH IS LIFE! shouting to us the glad refrain, "O, death, where is thy sting: O, grave, where is thy victory?" We are at the parting of the ways. At this open door man lays aside his mortality, and takes in immortality! Wonderful is the might, majesty, dominion and power and the all-pervading love of God! Friends, be comforted. A good man has gone to his reward. Beyond this earth-life and its babblings, its striving and contentions, there----is peace. And, my friends, may the peace of God, and His infinite love, which passeth all understanding, cheer and comfort you, who mourned this summons of our brother home--and strengthen us who wish for the coming of the summons.
   "From out the dim unknown, standeth God, within the shadow, keeping watch above His own."
   Looking not into this open sepulcher, but beyond it and above it, we will not say farewell, but--"Good morning, Brother Henry Klippel, good morning!" For the glorious morning of Eternity has dawned for him.
Medford Enquirer, November 9, 1901, page 4


Resolutions of Respect.
    Whereas, God in His wisdom has taken from earth Henry Klippel, who was a member of the council of the city of Medford, and whose life was spent in earnest endeavors to help build up the community in which he lived; who for fifty years has been a prominent citizen, always honorable and able; who was a true patriot, a sincere faithful friend and a kind and loving husband and father; therefore, be it
    Resolved, by the council of the city of Medford, that we deeply feel the loss by death of our honored member whose counsel was always for the best interests of the city and community in which he lived, and upon whose ability and good judgment we have always relied; and be it further
    Resolved, that the people of the city of Medford, through the city council, extend to the bereaved family and friends of the deceased their and its sincere and earnest sympathy;
    Resolved, that these resolutions be spread upon the journal of the council and published in the city papers, and that a copy thereof, under the seal of the city, be forwarded by the mayor and recorder to the widow of the deceased.
J. R. Wilson
J. U. Willeke
F. K. Deuel
Medford Mail, November 22, 1901, page 2
 
 
    I presume to have known Henry Klippel longer than any person in Jackson County. He came across the plains in 1851 with an ox train. They must have started about the first of April from the Missouri. We, brother O.B. and I, left Chicago on the 10th of April, crossed the Missouri May 10th, and started with a horse train of thirty wagons. We had a good trip, no sickness. We came to the Cascade Mountains on the Barlow Road. At the east end it was swampy, with big mudholes, and here we came across a stripling of a boy who had been left behind by an ox train. It seems that he was left behind to drive a big ox through that had given out. He had a sack behind his shoulder containing a loaf of bread and a slice of fat pork, and seemed quite happy. Shortly after passing him we heard the report of a pistol, and we knew the ox had mired down and could not get out and that this ended his misery. The boy came on and camped with us that night. We made him a cup of coffee, loaned him a blanket, and he started on the next morning all right--and this was Henry Klippel.                                                            
James H. Twogood, "Some Incidents of Early Days," Medford Mail, December 13, 1901, page 5


   
 The late Henry Klippel was a member of Banner Lodge No. 23, A.O.U.W., of Jacksonville, and the $2000 due his heirs was paid a few weeks after his death. The money was divided between his wife and daughter, Miss Allie.
"Medford Squibs," Democratic Times, Jacksonville, January 16, 1902, page 4


    Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Walters, of Tacoma, Wash., arrived in Medford Wednesday and will remain in this locality for several months. Mr. Walters is in the employ of the Singer Sewing Machine Company and will put out several sales wagons in Jackson County. Mrs. Walters is a sister of Mrs. Lannes Klippel.

"Purely Personal," Medford Mail, January 17, 1902, page 6


    Mr. L. P. Klippel, who has been visiting several months with relatives, left Wednesday evening for Portland, where she joined Mr. Klippel on their way to their home at Silver Lake, Or.

"Society: Medford," Sunday Oregonian, Portland, April 6, 1902, page 21


    Mr. and Mrs. Adam Klippel, of Portland, celebrated their golden wedding Friday, July 25th. More than twenty years ago they were residents of Jacksonville. Mr. Klippel at seventy-five years of age and his wife at sixty-eight are still hale and hearty and seem good for a number of years yet.
"Jacksonville News," Medford Mail, August 1, 1902, page 3


    The fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Adam Klippel, of Portland, was celebrated at their residence in that city on Friday last. They were married at Brownsville, Mo., July 25, 1852. These people have been residents of Portland for the past twenty-three years, where Mr. Klippel is well known as a minister, editor and business man. He is a brother of the late Henry Klippel, of Medford.
"City Happenings," Medford Mail, August 1, 1902, page 7


    Mrs. Nan Washburn, of Los Angeles, was the guest of Mrs. M. Obenchain Pioneer Day. Mrs. Washburn will probably remain in Medford with her sister, Mrs. H. Klippel, the coming winter.

"Jacksonville News," Medford Mail, September 12, 1902, page 3


    The winter of 1853 was very pinching; the small store of flour was divided until it was exhausted. On evening Henry Klippel and John Hillman were passing through a back lot while going home when Klippel suddenly stopped and said, "John, I smell bread." "So do I," replied Hillman. In a few moments they found two loaves set out to cool in the rear of Sam Goldstein's premises. They were very generous; they divided with the owner and took but one loaf. The next morning they visited the trader, priced clothing and boots and ventured at last on breadstuffs. "Aha!" exclaimed the trader, "I smell somedings, you are the rascals that stole my loaf." "We are," replied Klippel, "and we propose that you divide flour as we divided bread with you last night, so shell it out." With uplifted hands, Sam with a husky voice assured them, "So help him Abraham," that it took the last spoonful of flour to make that loaf. Burying his face in his hands he wept, and the boys departed deeply touched. Information as to the state of Sam's larder caused a lifelong regret that they did not take the other loaf.
Jessie Beulah Wilson (Jacksonville High School student), "History of Jacksonville," Jacksonville Sentinel, June 5, 1903, page 4


    Henry Klippel:--"I returned Tuesday from the province of Alberta, in the Dominion of Canada. It was four months ago that I left here, and since then I have been in St. Louis, Omaha, Chicago, Minneapolis and several other cities of the middle western states. For nearly three months I have been engaged in opening up a placer mining proposition in Alberta for a company of which I am a member. Gold is found there on the Saskatchewan River in black sand--similar to that along our Oregon coast. I put everything in shape for operating when spring opens. I may return again about March or April. That is a cold country and one which a Southern Oregon man feels like getting away from at this season of the year. When I left considerable snow had fallen and the thermometer was eighteen degrees below zero. I froze my ears while there. How about Klondike? I hardly think so. I don't want to go. Cold weather makes me tired, still I may go."
"Echoes from the Street," Medford Mail, November 26, 1897, page 7


QUARTZ MILL
The First One Erected in Oregon.
On Gold Hill, Jackson Co.
Built by Klippel, McLaughlin and Williams--Not a Paying Investment.
    The story of the first quartz mill erected in Southern Oregon is recalled by the passing away of the pioneer miner, Henry Klippel, who is fully entitled to the name of the father of quartz mining in Oregon, through his connection with the industry at Gold Hill lode in 1860. It was in January of 1860 that a pioneer named Graham, who was better known by the sobriquet "Emigrant," located what proved to be the astonishingly rich pocket ledge of Gold Hill. Not being able to locate [i.e., claim] the whole ledge himself, the "Emigrant" took in the proposition with him John Long, George Fish, Thomas Chavner and Jas. Hays, who each staked claims. They found an abundance of flat rock on the surface of the ground which was rich in free gold, and the news of their strike spread over Jackson County like wildfire on a western prairie.
    Prospectors and miners flocked to the hill from all quarters of Southern Oregon and Northern California, and hundreds of claims were staked and marked out with no other boundary lines than ropes stretched along them. Among other locators was Henry Klippel, who picked up a piece of quartz rock on his claim weighing thirteen ounces that yielded five ounces in gold. The quartz was worked with mortars, and never before or since was money so plentiful in Jackson County as during those early days. The dull old town of Jacksonville at once assumed metropolitan airs, and was the headquarters for the miners of the whole section. Hotels, restaurants and stores multiplied, and an era of great prosperity was inaugurated. A daily stage line was put on the route between Jacksonville and the new mines and the buses were crowded with prospectors and sightseers bound for the Eldorado, Gold Hill. The gold fever seized on the whole country; farms were abandoned for the mines, and as long as the extraordinary output continued there was prosperity galore for everyone.
    After taking out a large amount of the precious metal from their claims, a disagreement arose among the original locators, and Graham sold his interest to Henry Klippel and John Ross for $5000, while James Hays disposed of his for a like amount to Klippel, John McLaughlin and Charles Williams. The new owners immediately began to develop the claims with vigor. Two arrastras were erected to reduce the rich rock, and were operated with mules as motive power. At the weekly cleanups for some time 100 ounces of gold was the rule. Such was the accumulation of ore that the arrastras were not equal to the work, so Mr. Klippel resolved on putting up a 20-stamp quartz mill, to be run with steam power, at a cost of $12,000. In company with McLaughlin and Williams, a quartz mill was purchased in San Francisco, and a contract entered into the mining company to reduce their ore at $8 per ton. The mill arrived in the spring of 1860, having come by water to Coos Bay and then by road, via Scottsburg. Very much difficulty was experienced in hauling the heavy freight over the rough roads. The freight bill alone is said to have been $2600.
    After a short time the mill was successfully erected and the machinery installed. Dardanelles was selected as a site for the pioneer mill, and it began work on a run of 200 tons of refuse quartz that had been thrown aside as having been too poor to run through the arrastra.
    The rock yielded $100 to the ton, and the prospects were rosy indeed. The next run, which was unassorted rock, however, was a great surprise to the owners, for it yielded only $3 per ton, and the paucity of the gold was attributed to defective amalgamation. But the mine was beginning to peter out, and another run of six weeks demonstrated that the location was a pocket ledge. Two dollars and forty cents per ton was a result of the last run, and during August both the mine and the mill closed down. Messrs. Klippel, McLaughlin and Williams lost about $11,000 on their venture with the pioneer quartz mill.
    The property was afterwards leased to a party of Siskiyou County miners, who could not make a go of it, so abandoned it. Then the mill was moved to the Jewett mine, situated on the south side of Rogue River, owned by the Jewett Brothers and William Douthitt, of Jacksonville. At this mine the cleanup showed the rock to yield $40 per ton, and in all $40,000 was pounded out of the Jewett claim.
    After this mine was exhausted the old quartz mill was successfully converted into a sawmill, and run as such for a long time. Afterwards it was dismantled and some years later the engine and boiler were moved to Parker's sawmill on Big Butte Creek, where good service was done by them for a number of years.--Ashland Tidings.
Crook County Journal, Prineville, December 12, 1901, page 1


FOND RECOLLECTIONS.
Richard Klippel, a Former Sentinel Devil, Writes About Home Coming Day.
    EDITOR SENTINEL:--I was handed a clipping from your much-revered paper with its hearty invitation for the old-time printer's devils and boys to attend the "Home Come Day," July 27, 1909, and I must say it fills my heart with longing and unfeigned joy in anticipation of the great delight that it would give me to have that privilege. And I feel grateful to you, Mr. Editor, for being personally remembered in your valuable paper. There is nothing in my memory so precious and soul-stirring as the days of my boyhood in old Oregon, Mo.; it is really the “Home sweet home to me." I cannot think of anything so joyful to my memory as the days when I lived there; in fact, there has been no other place that left an impression on me to any way near compare with it. I have now been away from there 32 years and two months, and the reading of that notice sends a thrill of longing through me that unquestionably declares Oregon, Holt County, Missouri, the place of most sacred memory. What joy it would be to me could I accept your kind invitation and be present, but circumstances are not favorable.
    What is the use to think of it: I must bring something to counteract that desire. Well, yes, you disposed of the old Washington hand press and that track rolling inking apparatus, over which they yelled at us to take ink and distribute it better so often, and then, I remember, distinctly, how you forbid me whistling while working; yes, and changed my case so I couldn't see any one of my old girls as they passed by! Oh, I have several things that will help me to bear the disappointment of not being able to attend. However, I thank you again for the kind invitation, and am only sorry that I cannot be there.
    Give all the old boys and friends my kindest regards, and tell them I still love them, and that I am not sticking type now, but am interested in a laundry business. Occasionally I peek into a printing office and the old familiar smell and sights make me homesick.
    I beg you will excuse this poor acknowledgment of your kind invitation. Just show this to Tom Curry, John Philbrick, Charley Marsh and left-handed Frank Hart (who knocked me out over the scramble for a high stool) and anyone who would like to know about me, and then throw this in the wastebasket, merely mentioning that you heard from me.
RICHARD H. KLIPPEL,
    997 Garfield Avenue,
        Portland, Ore.
Holt County Sentinel, Oregon, Missouri, April 23, 1909, page 1


     Mrs. Henry Klippel and son of Portland were among the pioneers at Jacksonville Thursday. Mrs. Klippel was for many years a resident of Jackson County. Her husband was political boss of the county for 20 years.

"Local and Personal," Medford Mail Tribune, October 2, 1914, page 2


    KLIPPEL--Miss Allie Klippel died at the home of her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Klippel, 228 North Holly Street, Medford, November 5, 1923. She was born at Jacksonville, Oct. 16, 1863 and is a member of one of the oldest pioneer families of the valley. She lived most of her life in Jacksonville and Medford and had many friends. She had been ill for four weeks.
    Besides the mother she leaves two brothers, J. H. Klippel of Portland, Ore., F. W. Klippel of California, and a niece, Mrs. Emma Scougall of Medford.
    Funeral services at Conger's Undertaking Parlor, Wednesday afternoon at two, Rev. Lawrence presiding. Interment at Jacksonville cemetery.

"Obituary," Medford Clarion, November 9, 1923, page 7
 

IMPRESSIONS AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE JOURNAL MAN
By Fred Lockley
    "No, I don't have to use glasses, except for fine type or fine sewing," said Mrs. Henry Klippel when I visited her recently at Medford. "We came across the plains to Oregon in 1853, when I was 13. I was born in Missouri, March 2, 1840. My father, John Bigham, was born in the north of Ireland. My mother's name was Allie E. Cathey. I was christened Elizabeth A. Bigham. I was married January 24, 1860, to Henry S. Klippel at Jacksonville. My husband was born in Germany, December 11, 1833. He came with his parents to Cincinnati when 4 years old. Later they moved to St. Joseph, Mo. When my husband was 18--in 1851--he came across the plains to Oregon. In the winter of 1851 he worked in the mines at Yreka, Cal. In February, 1852, shortly after gold was discovered at Jacksonville, he came to Jacksonville and mined on Rich Gulch. For a while he had a claim on Galice Creek, in Josephine County. When rich ore was struck at Gold Hill he built the first quartz mill in Oregon. In 1864 he went to the Idaho mines. A year or two after the close of the Civil War he and William Hoffman ran a hardware store in Jacksonville. He was in the hardware business six years.
    "When Jacksonville was incorporated my husband was elected city recorder and later became president of the board of trustees. In 1870 he was elected sheriff. In 1872 he was appointed capital commissioner and was elected president of the board. About 1874 or '75 he and Mr. Beekman built a quartz mill on the Jewett claim. He was one of the discoverers and owners of the Emmeline cinnabar mine. He was chairman of the Democratic state central committee in 1874. In 1877 he organized a company to build a ditch in Squaw Lake to the placer mines on the Applegate and for the next three years he had charge of these mines. In 1880 he was elected county clerk and reelected two years later. My husband died in November, 1902.
    "When I came to Oregon with my parents we wintered at the Foster settlement, in Clackamas County. We started for California, but when we got into the Rogue River Valley we found the Indians were making trouble, so Father stopped at Jacksonville.
    "Do I remember the trip across the plains in 1853? Yes, indeed--very distinctly. I was 13 and my memory of that trip is more vivid than of many things in the last score of years. There were 10 wagons in our train. At Salt Lake the train divided, and Father, with Mr. Allison, decided to go to Oregon instead of California, so they started on ahead of the others. We met some travelers who told us that all the land in the Willamette Valley was taken up, but there was some fine land in the Puget Sound country, so my father and Mr. Allison decided to go to Puget Sound. They were going to cross the Columbia at Fort Walla Walla. The Indians offered to take the two wagons across if Father and Mr. Allison would give half of everything they had. I was scared to death, for I thought if they divided the children into halves I might be with the half that went to the Indians. Father refused the Indians' terms, so we came on down to the Willamette Valley. My brother had mountain fever and was lying in the wagon. An Indian boy about 12 years old kept climbing in the back of the wagon to ride. Mother told him the oxen were so weak they could hardly pull the wagon without any extra load, but the boy kept climbing in, so Mother, who had a quick temper, hit him with the whip across the back. The boy went off howling, and that night more than 50 Indians gathered around our camp, trying to make us pay for hurting the boy. My father and Mr. Allison got their guns out, but fortunately a chief came riding up and made the Indians go away, and he rode with us a day or two to protect us, and wouldn't accept any present for his services.
    "My son John has worked in the custom house in Portland ever since 1893. Fred is in California. An old Indian woman who used to do my washing and ironing solved for me the mystery of the disappearance of the Harris boy. When the Indians of Southern Oregon rose in the late fall of 1855 they went to Jewett's Ferry, killed Mr. Hamilton, who had a pack train, and then went on to Evans' Ferry, where they shot Isaac Shelton, who came from the Willamette Valley. They next killed a Mr. Jones, who had a ranch south of the ferry, and shot Mrs. Jones and left her for dead. However, she revived and did not die till the next day. Mrs. Tufts, who was shot through the body, recovered. They burned J. B. Wagner's house. The little Wagner girl recognized an Indian who had worked for them and ran to him for protection. This Indian hid this little girl out and later took her to his mother to be cared for. Mrs. Wagner would not come out of the house, so the Indians burned the house. The volunteers found in the house the bones of a woman and a small child. They supposed the child was her little girl, but the squaw told me that Mary, her little girl, was taken by this Indian to his own people to be cared for, and when the volunteer soldiers came into the Applegate country to kill the Indians on the Applegate the chief of the Applegate tribe shot little Mary Wagner. I asked the squaw if that was so, how it happened that the bones of a little child were found in the ruins of the Wagner house. The squaw said the Indians went from the Evans house to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harris. T. A. Reed, who worked for the Harrises, was out in the field at work. The Indians killed him. David, the little boy, had a little homemade wagon. His fate was never known. For years his mother and others hoped he would be discovered, but this squaw told me the Indians had captured David Harris and his wagon and the chief was afraid David's crying would attract attention to them, so he killed David and threw his body and his wagon into the blazing cabin where Mrs. Wagner was burned to death. When the Indians came to the Harris home Mr. Harris hurried to the cabin but was shot just as he entered the door. He died an hour later. His daughter Mary, 12 years old, was shot through the arm. Mrs. Harris had a rifle, a shotgun and a single-barrel pistol, and as the Indians approached she kept firing, and so accurately that she kept the Indians at a distance all day, and that night she and Mary left the house, hid in the brush, and next day, seeing some soldiers, they came out and were taken to Jacksonville."
Oregon Journal, Portland, July 18, 1927, page 12


PIONEER WOMAN OF VALLEY IS TAKEN BY DEATH
    Elizabeth Ann Klippel, one of the oldest pioneers of Jackson County, passed away at her home, 228 North Holly Street, Wednesday evening. Mrs. Klippel was born in Cooper County, Missouri, March 2, 1840. At the age of 12 years and in the year 1852 she came with her parents to Oregon by ox team and settled at Salem. Residing there about one year, they came to Jackson County and at Jacksonville she was married January 24, 1860 and resided there until coming to Medford 33 years ago. She has been a continuous resident of Jackson County for the past 74 years and at the time of her death was aged 87 years, six months, five days.
    Thus Jackson County has lost another one of those sturdy pioneers of which there are now a comparative few. She leaves two sons living, J. H. Klippel, of Portland, and F. W., of Oceanside, Cal., and four children deceased. Two sisters also survive, Mary Craft of Medford and Cordelia Allison of San Francisco. Also four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Conger chapel at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, conducted by Rev. W. H. Eaton of the Baptist church, of which she was a member. Interment will be in Jacksonville cemetery.
Medford Mail Tribune, September 8, 1927, page 3


Newbury Sheds Light on Early Political History
    Brought to mind by a recent reference in Frank Jenkins' column of the Mail Tribune to the discovery of Crater Lake, for which John W. Hillman was given credit, the history of another settler, who accompanied Hillman, is told by attorney Gus Newbury.
    "Accompanying Hillman, who left this state for Louisiana, where he died within the last half dozen years, was a young man by the name of Henry Klippel, who with Hillman and the rest of the party was one of the first white people to see the lake. This was in 1853," attorney Newbury writes.
    "Klippel made his home in Jackson County, Oregon, and in the early history of Jackson County was a very prominent Democratic politician and officeholder. He held the office of sheriff of Jackson County for two consecutive terms, and from 1880 to 1884 was county clerk. His family, consisting of his wife and several children, resided in Jacksonville, where Mr. Klippel died about 25 years ago. He has a son by the name of John Klippel, who is in the customs department of the United States government at Portland, Ore. and has been for many years, and his surviving son, Fred Klippel, resides in San Francisco.
    "Mr. Klippel's surviving wife resided quietly in Medford for many years, where she died about two years ago. Among the pioneers of the county, the Klippel family were well known, and the surviving old pioneers will recall both Mr. Klippel, his wife and the family.
    "In days gone by, when political lines were much tighter than at the present time, the leaders of the Democratic Party consisted of Henry Klippel, W. H. Parker, James R. Neil, for many terms county judge of Jackson County; James D. Fay and Judge P. P. Prim, who was at one time a supreme judge of Oregon, and opposed to this array of Democrats were C. C. Beekman, late banker at Jacksonville; Max Muller, Judge E. B. Watson, who afterwards was one of the supreme judges of Oregon; William Hoffman, B. F. Dowell, who was a prominent lawyer; Orange Jacobs and Samuel Colver, and other lesser political lights.
    "Under the management of these respective partisans, the party victory went first to one and then to the other. The stronger party feeling that existed In the country prior to the time of the Civil War, down to the middle '80s, grew out of the tense partisan feeling that existed because of the slavery and anti-slavery, most of the Democrats of the time being in sympathy with the South, and the Republicans were universally in favor of the North and anti-slavery principles; and these sentiments continued to prevail, and were based upon the feeling in regard to slavery, down to the early '80s, when the feeling in regard to the war had largely subsided, and a new generation was coming on.
    "The reference to the discovery of Crater Lake by Hillman prompted the suggestion of the foregoing facts in regard to the early history of Jackson County, and its partisan results."
Medford Mail Tribune, September 25, 1931, page 14

 
 
 
Last revised May 17, 2023