Folklore: Masters no. 3

Writing in these manuscripts are varying first or secondhand accounts from different pioneer settlers in the Oregon territory, ranging from personal writings, letters, to newspaper clippings of said writing to provide examples contained within.

"A Brief History Of Linn City"

Three pages, obtained by Sara B. Wrenn from Roy Clark of Oregon City with a correspondence from Susan "Susette" Crossly. The writing goes into depth about the creation of Linn City around 1844. With mentions of it's namesake, Senator Linn of Missouri, with his advocation of the extension of laws from the United States provided over the west of the Rocky Mountains. Names that have been mentioned for their contribution in this towns creations within the writing; Samuel R. Thurston, Captain Archie Pease, Robert Moore, Louis Renolds, Joseph Meeks, A.H. Frier, and General Joel Palmer. With references to an epidemic taking place for Natives particularly on Sauvie or Wapato Island. A note was left at the bottom of the third page which indicates that the informer, Roy Clark, is the grandson of the Sidney Walter Moss, a famous Oregon businessman.

"Pertaining To Milwauke"

Three pages, no interviewer(s) identified. This is an excerpt from a copy of the original letter from Mary Elder to her aunt, Mrs. Sanford Watson. The letter was written about the Oregon territory, and dated March 29, 1850. It was copied by Lillian G. Applegate, granddaughter of the writer, Maria Elder Watson.

"The Story Of Granite" and "Granite In 1878"

Sixteen pages, transcribed by William Haight from an interview taken place in Canyon City, Oregon, March 1939. The informer and writer of these documents was Mrs. Neil Niven, a schoolmistress at Granite in the 1890s. While the interviewer could not authenticate all the information, they believed it to be accurate due to the informers proximity to the residents and as a previous inhabitant of the ghost town themselves.

"Letter By T.E. Hammersly"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified, transcribed from the Oregonian May 22, 1932. Article provides insight into rattlesnake control within Klamath Falls, or what it was earlier known as: Linkville, in 1882.

"Tongue Twisters"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified. Documented to be a part of informer Charles T. Dickinson's interview as remembered by them. Writing includes two alliterations, "The Crooked Story" and "The Twister".

"How's About a Nice Juicy Hooter"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified. Obtained and published from the "Forest Log" from the Oregon State Board of Forestry on April 19, 1934. List of steps on how to properly cook an owl.

"The Corpse And The Pickles"

Three pages, informed by Mary Fisher to interviewer Sara B. Wrenn. Which included two renditions of the same story about the informers aunt at death's door and their fervent craving for pickles.

"Untitled Letter to Reverend F.C. Caseault, Secretary Quebec from Modeste Demers Missionary Priest"

Ten pages, including an additional copy of the writing, translated by F.S. Robert. Dated February 5, 1840, around the Cowlitz river, most likely the Cowlitz Mission, which is now officially the St. Francis Xavier Mission. The letter's contents provides a glimpse into the events unfolded around October in 1840 with the mission's early construction, and insight into the clergy's perspective on Native Americans that joined them on this journey and their attempts to culturally assimilate them. The writer often brought up a term the Native Americans often used, "tamanwas" or "tamahnous". The author described it as a sort of medicinal practice, and went into detail of the burial practices for the dead.

"A Good Deal"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified. From a personal letter written to CLaire Warner Churchill by her mother, Mrs. M.Y. Warner. Letter contains a story about Mary Neet, formerly a Mary Warner of Fall Creek, Oregon, which reounts her younger years making quick cash for a hair switch made from her own, and a supply of bear grease to maintain it, as was customer during that time with no other option for hair oil back then.

"Folk Place Names"

Two pages, a copy transcribed from the Oregon Geographic Names by Lewis A. McArthur, 1928. An itemized list of unique place names around Oregon, with places identified as Deathball Rock and Noti in Lane County, Sleepy Creek and Temperance Creek in Wallowa County, Splintercat Creek in Clackamas County, Steamboat in Jackson County, and finally Wonder in Josephine County.

"Needs More Ads"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified. Found in Grant County News contributed by a Willamette Farmer on November 11, 1881, who wished to air out their frustration over the lack of patented medicines.

"Folk Place Names In Douglas County"

One page, writing provided by Claire W. Churchill. Recounts the naming of two places, Duck Egg Valley and Nofog, both attributed from it's simple characterizations from events that unfolded in each location.

"New Styles"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified. Document is dated to be transcribed from a spectator concerning fashion August 30, 1846 from an untitled document column 2 page 59.

"Origin of Webfoot"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified. From the "Atlantis Arisen" by Frances Fuller Victor of J.B. Lippincott Company, 1891, page 110. Document provides insight into the term "webfoot" and its origin with calling Oregonian as such.

"Letter From Dr. C.H. Hall To His Wife In 1888"

One page, transcribed by Sara B. Wrenn in June, 1939. Document was originally written from Holton House, Portland, Jun 16, 1888. With C.H. Hall relating his itinery while away from his home in Salem and his family.

"The Ups And Downs Of An Orphan School Marm"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified. Recognized from the personal scrapbook of Mrs. Hortense Applegate which tells of schoolteacher's accounts of education in the Oregon territory.

"The Cemetary"

Two pages, including an additional copy, no interviewer(s) identified, provided by C.O. Olsen from miscellaneous pamplets labeled volume one of the Pacific Monthly and Official Gazette, page 179. Document retells the monument dedicated to a clairvoyant man who forsaw his own death and planned the construction to his own grave ahead of it. Writing indicates Locey perrished by an explosion of the Senator, a steamboat at Portland May 5, 1875.

"Shingle Check Recognized" One page, no interviewer(s) identified. From a pamphlet issue by Ladd and Bush Bank titles "70 Years". Obtained in Salem, March, 1939. Document describes the process of checking account formalities and borrowers from the earlier days at the bank.

"Tales Of The Trout And The Kingfishers"

Two pages, no interviewer(s) identified. Writing accounts for the tale and events that unfolded at an eastern Oregon fish hatchery with it's fish warden training his school to defend from the attacks of kingfishers through the ploy of eating the birds. With the proclamations of the success by these trouts training, that kingfisher's nest further away from their streams.

"Walla Walla Town Talk"

Three pages, transcribed by M.S. Robertson and obtained from the storage vault basement of the East Oregonian, semi-weekly edition, volume seven, number twenty-three. Dated February 24, 1882 and labeled as a tall tale from Walla Walla with one woman who is on the hunt for her daughter's second husband.

"Webfoot, Sui Genesis"

Two pages, obtained by M. Bannister, March 11, 1940 from the "Undeveloped West: Or Five Years In The Territories" by J.H. Beadle, 1873.

"My Parting Thoughts To 'Pa'"

Two pages, no interviewer(s) identified. Documents provided by Mrs. Hortense Applegate and their personal scrapbook as part of a folklore survery February, 1939. Parting words from a son, Audley, to his father, with the instructions to read at their grave.

"Early Days Of Pendleton" or "Customs And Ways"

Six pages, obtained by Fred Jacobson from the writing of "Reminiscences Of Oregon Pioneers" compiled by the Pioneer Ladies Club in Pendleton, Oregon.

"Snakes And Frogs Migration"

Two pages, no interviewer(s) identified. Obtained from an article written by Herbert S. Lampman of the Wenatchee World with its publication in the Oregonian November 3, 1935. While dispute of the work, it is believed the contents were authored by Dr. Clarence True Wilson about the migrations of snakes and frogs in Southern Oregon.

"Oregon City's Interesting Past And Promising Future"

Three pages, obtained by Sara B. Wrenn of a newspaper article provided by Anita H. McCarver with the description of the writing being of piteresque biography from incidents in careers of noted pioneers that were narrated. Contents include noted figures; Morton Matthew McCarver, Peter Burnett, David Hill, Matthew Gilmore, A.L. Lovejoy, Daniel Waldo, T.D. Kaiser, Robert Newell.

"Lost Money"

Two pages, obtained by Charles Fisher for Arthur Busick of Union, Oregon in 1936. The incidents in the folktale writing identified to be around 1875 from the individual names Nat Graves, who buried his gold pieces in a shot sack worth $12,000 within the sand by the Owyhee river. Due to the unforeseen migration of the cattle herding across the same bank, caused the marker to be broken and misplaced. The tale concludes of the lost gold still out there, but Graves was able to sell his land for $95,000, living out the rest of his days in Boise, Idaho.

"Early States History Reviewed"

Four pages, obtained by Sara B. Wrenn and provided by Anita H. McCarver with the description of the writing about Oregon City being the seained by Sara B. Wrennt of the first government within the Oregon territory. With extracts of the legislative committee of 1844-1855. Contents include noted figures; Morton Matthew McCarver, Peter Burnett, David Hill, Matthew Gilmore, A.L. Lovejoy, Daniel Waldo, T.D. Kaiser, Robert Newell.

"Magnolia"

Ten pages, edited by Mary Warren. Annotated to be published by unlisted young ladies of Oregon City Seminary in February 15, 1867.

"Shipwrecks"

Four pages, no interviewer(s) identified, includes a bibliography of work cited for this included early folk legends of Oregon and that of lost galleons or besswax ships. Contents include second hand accounts by Clatsop natives from around the 1750s of the unsuccessful expedition of Admiral Otondo. While the accounts provided don't align with known records of the well known Spanish Admiral Otondo as his colonial expansion happened around the late 18th century more than fifty years prior to these descriptions. Bibliography includes the contributed works by Glenn N. Ranck, S.J. Cotton, and Silas B. Smith.

"Mr. And Mrs. Wesley Day"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified. Document includes a newspaper clipping from a column by Dean Collins of the win glass identified to be a part of a fifty piece diamond cut set at the Pioneer Museum in Tillamook. Date is unknown for the article, but it was obtained by the Day's as a wedding gift from a Captain Joseph Jesse Dawson.

"Interview of Joseph Brough"

Seven pages, interviewed by Manly M. Bannister on March 29, 1939 about river town life, the many odd jobs within the logging industry, and being a "dance callers" within the logging industry. Interview includes routines performed as well as the odd jobs performed by these dancers.

"The Old Settlers' Ball"

Two pages, obtained by Sara B. Wrenn from the miscellaneous items by Roy Clark, grandson to Sidney Walter Moss. With the events that unfolded in 1858, Oregon City and it's committee appointed to organize a dance to honor the old pioneers. From Clark's account, the notoriety of the ball brought those all across the Oregon territory to Oregon City for the event.

"Oregon Journal Newspaper Excerpt"

One page, classified as the third page of a full newspaper spread from the Oregon Journal from April 7, 1940. The article "Portland Through A Lorgnette" was written by Jean Muir, of various accounts of Portland between the 1850s and 1860s with the focus curated on the elegant perspective of the city and it's beginning. The stories include everyday life, latest fashion, event gatherings. Other stories include "Marion's Clock Is Venerable" by Ben Maxwell which discusses the former Marion county courthouse and the architecture and mechanism design around the clock tower. Finally the article "Saturday, 13th, 'Opening Day'" by W.E. Finley and Ed Averill, which includes the updated schedule for fishing season of that year.

"Pioneer Home Remedies"

One page, full newspaper spread from the Oregonian June 4 1939. By Elizabeth Gedney and included comic drawings by Ralph Lee. The writing and correlating comics provided examples of remedies utilized by settlers in the Oregon territory. Some solutions included gunpowder as a remedy to treat frostbite, whiskey as a source to eliminate snake bites, laudanum for sick babies, and a mixture of pepper, vinegar, and salt to gargle for sore throats.

"Among Our Neighbors"

One page, no interviewer(s) identified. Document includes a newspaper clipping from a column by Dean Collins glued to a paper with the title "Luelling Fruit Trees" typed at the top. No date identified for the article. Description of the article includes the many different apple trees brought over from pioneering, including their continued production after being purchased from Seth Luelling or commonly spelled "Lewelling", a pioneer orchardist who was involved with the founding of the Oregon Republican party. William Knight, who purchased the orchard from Luelling, date for the purchase not specified.

"Interview of Mrs. Ingalls"

Eighteen pages, interview by William C. Haight dated on both February 17th and 20th, 1939. Interview includes the description of Mrs. Ingalls youth, including the occasional dances she would frequent at the local schoolhouse and the amusements of melancholy ballads performed there. Other notable stories include the mishandling of a corpse and its descent, her uncles search for a long lost mine on Mt. Adams, ghost stories, and some of her favorite songs.

"Excerpts From Early Oregon Reminiscences Of Mrs. E.M. Wilson"

Seven pages, no interviewer(s) identified. Document includes a typed out note that this except should be added to the interview of "Mrs. Jos. T. Peters". Letter appears to be the informer's accounts of their own experiences with Natives within the Willamette valley and Oregon Territory from 1851 to 1885. Contents throughout speak on the contradictions to the fear of violence, an often misconstrued perception for Native Americans by White settlers with examples of personal accounts of interactions. Instances include that of personal accounts within the informers own home in Albany, a former Salem school resident during Jason Lee's mission, and the kindness given during a parents bereavement over the loss of their child. Tribes identified by the informer on who they interacted with includes Nez Perce, Snohomish or Snoqualmie, Nehalem, and Yakima Nation.

"He Soaped The Preacher's Horn"

Seven pages, written by Howard Mckinley Corning. A description of the early Oregon days with the most lively of events to take place from a past summer camp meeting. The writing's description provides insight into how these large groups would gather to the troupe of preachers sermons. In one instance, an unfortunate prank left the preachers seething over soap on the gathering horn. With the culprit eventually coming forward with a remorseless admittance of the act, which the writing ends with an altercation between the preacher and the offender. Documents include an untitled article that was acquired from the Oregon Sentinel, January 27, 1866, that correspond these same events.

"Curry County Wild Hogs"

Seven pages, acquired April 14, 1936 by C.W. Briggs. Research writing about the wild hogs in Curry county used in meat production and why this region with their oak timber production assisted with wild pig farming.

"The Great Flood - 1861"

Three pages, no date identified, provided by Marie La France. Research writing about the devastation and loss of life during the Great Flood of 1861.

"Interview of Mrs. Hortense Applegate"

Fourteen pages, interviewed by Sara B. Wrenn. Inlcudes Copy of an auction bill of sale in 1856.

"Interview Of Charles E. Bannister"

Sixteen pages, interviewed by Manly M. Bannister, February 10, 1939.

"Interview Of Benjamin B. Beekman"

Four pages, interviewed by Manly M. Bannister, July 11, 1939.

"Interview of Mrs. J.R. Bean"

Fourteen pages, interviewed by Sara B. Wrenn, January 31, 1939.