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Union Community History Project

  About: The Union Community History Project began after the closer or the Union United Methodist Church.  The closure forced past parishion...

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Union County Oral History: Walter Smutz

 



Union County, Oreogn History Project

An affiliate of the Oregon Historical Society

for full transcript see: https://library.eou.edu/ohgr/edited%20smutz%20transcript.pdf



Remembering Grandma Smutz

I:  What do you remember about your grandmother on your father's side? 

WS: My earliest recollection of my Grandmother Smutz is when I was probably about two years old.  I remember my folks stopping in front of her house, which was alwasy referred to as the home place ( On Sand Ridge, between Island City and Cove).  When we got out of the car--a Model T Ford coupe-- Grandma was standing about half way between the house and the steps.  My mother took me up from the road to the steps, and I ran up the walk to grandma.  I thought she was  a rather tall, thin lady.  She always wore an apron, usually blue.  Then Grandma and I went in the house while my folks went someplace.  I remember staying lots of times at Grandma's.  

What I remember most about Grandma is her apron.  We would go to the hen house to gather eggs, and Grandma would carry two dozen eggs in her apron.  She would take hold of the bottom, fold it and mike it like a big bucket.  she used it the same way when we went into the garden to get beans, corn and other vegetables.  

It semmed that she was alsyays cooking over a roaring fire or washing.  Washing was always very inportant to Grandma.  She had four sons living there at the time, and one or two hired men lived there year round.  One was Lou Rodgers, who herded sheep and considered Grandma Smutz's place his seconf hoome; he stayed there in the winter and helped the the chores.  When Grandma cooked breakfast, it always consisted of friend potatoes, eggs, meat, buscutis and gravy.  the big meal was dinner at noon and super in the eveing. It semmed to me that all Grandma ever didi was cook, wash dishes and get ready to cook again.

First thien Monday monring she did the washing in a square-tub

Monday, March 22, 2021

The Broom Brigade of Union 1889

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https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/broom-brigade-of-union-1889/#.YFjOX69KhPY

This photograph was taken on July 4, 1889. It shows the Broom Brigade of Union, a town in northeastern Oregon’s Grande Ronde Valley.

Broom brigades were women’s organizations that spread throughout the United States during the 1880s. Mark Twain observed in his 1883 book Life on the Mississippi that “in the West and South they have a new institution—the Broom Brigade. It is composed of young ladies who dress in a uniform costume, and go through the infantry drill, with broom in place of musket.” He described the broom brigade of New Orleans: “I saw them go through their complex manual with grace, spirit, and admirable precision. I saw them do everything which a human being can possibly do with a broom, except sweep.”

Union’s Broom Brigade was organized shortly before the town’s 1889 Fourth of July celebration. The Fourth of July was a major holiday in small town America during the post-Civil War period, and towns competed with each other to see who could put on the most extravagant display of patriotism. The July 4, 1889, issue of the Union Eastern Oregon Republican noted that “while the other committees were busily engaged arranging their plans for a successful celebration of the Fourth a number of the ladies conceived the idea of getting up something on their account the management of which should be entirely in their own hands. A meeting was organized, attended by a large number of ladies, married and single and after discussing a number of plans, the organization of a broom brigade was agreed upon.” The paper noted that “the brigade occupied a prominent place in the procession and was the recipient of much applause as it sturdily marched along, armed with their weapons of defense.”

Broom brigades embodied somewhat contradictory ideas about women’s roles in American society. On the one hand, broom brigades can be seen as expressions of what historians call the “cult of domesticity,” a nineteenth-century cultural movement that defined white middle-class women as submissive homemakers and caregivers. But in some ways broom brigades also subverted this cultural ideal. Although the toting of brooms certainly suggested domesticity, the military drilling and public displays of martial skills were expressive of the changing role of women in late nineteenth-century America, particularly their increasing participation in public life and in other activities previously deemed exclusively male.

Further Reading:
Welter, Barbara. “The Cult of True Womanhood: 1820-1860.” American Quarterly 18, 1966: 151-174.

Written by Cain Allen, © Oregon Historical Society, 2005. 

Tuesday, February 2, 2021

Union Victorian Cemetery Flyer

 Visit the Union Victorian Cemetery 

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Union Victorian Cemetery

Established 1862

The oldest Monument Cemetery in Northeastern Oregon

770 E. Fulton St.

PO Box 707

Union, OR 97883

541-562-5212

Unioncemetery2@eoni.com

Office hours 9:00-11:00C:\Users\CEMETERY\Pictures\2003-01-01\IMGP0013 (2).JPG








The Chapel

This building is reported to have been constructed in 1893 as a tool shed for the cemetery.  In 1997 the Veterans took timbers from the old Union Flour mill and siding from an historic house and refurbished the shed into a Chapel.  


Conrad Miller OS2-151-8     

Just behind the chapel to the north you will find the marker for Conrad Miller who was the first white man to settle in the area in 1861.  He built a cabin to spend his first winter in.  In the spring of 1862 he decided to go back to Vancouver to purchase some fruit trees.  When he returned he discovered 3 men had taken over the cabin.  These men wanted the place for their own.  Fred Nodine was asked to judge the case.   Nodine discovered that Conrad had planted a garden before he left on his trip to Vancouver.  Nodine felt that because of this Conrad had planned to return to his cabin so it was decided that the claim should belong to Miller.        C:\Users\CEMETERY\Pictures\2003-01-01\IMGP0013 (3).JPG


Jabaz Hinckley  OS2-173-3

A group of miners were in Idaho discussing where to spend the upcoming winter when a man spoke up and said “Boys, I can tell you where to go for land. Go to Grande Ronde Valley, Oregon for it is the most beautiful valley I ever saw.”  A couple of days after that Jabaz Hinckley and Cutting Clark started off for that valley.  These are two of the men Conrad Miller found in his Cabin when he returned from his trip. (South of the Chapel)


Harriet Chapman OS2-140-10

Harriet and her husband J.A.J. Chapman are of the original settlers in the valley.  We have no dates for her birth or death, just a note scrawled beside her name that says she is the first person buried in this Cemetery.  


Frederick Nodine OS2-160-4C:\Users\CEMETERY\Pictures\2003-01-01\IMGP0001 (4).JPG

Fred, who was the judge in the case of Conrad Miller and Jabaz Hinckley, settled here in this valley in 1862.  He built up one of the largest cattle ranches and became one of the wealthiest men in this area for over 20 years. He was known throughout the state because of his large cattle drives.   Fred donated the land for this cemetery to be built upon he also donated the land for the public school.  In the end however, through some bad investments Fred and his wife Eliza died here in Union among the impoverished.  (Buried north of the gate to the walkway leading to the chapel) 


Joseph and Catherine Upton OS2-146-5 

Joseph was the first caretaker of this cemetery. They are buried in our only crypt.


Moses Lore OS2-157-8

Just to the north side of the Chapel lies the grave of Moses Lore, one of the first french canadians to come to Union. He came to the Oregon territory in the 1830’s. In 1839 he was working for Heny Spalding (a missionary working with the Nez Perce). He lived with the Indians for many years.  He worked in the Rocky Mountains as a hunter and trapper of beaver and buffalo.  He fought with Indians and robbers.  He was a miner but found no gold only fever, ague and scurvy.  He peddled merchandise until he finally made his way to Union in 1862.  Here he became a farmer and stock raiser.  He was married to Mary Sanders (a Chinook) and together they had 6 children, only one survived. Joseph Lore, Moses’ son is buried here close beside his father. OS2-157-06.C:\Users\CEMETERY\Pictures\2003-01-08\IMGP0050 (2).JPG


Albert J. Goodbrod  OS2-138-5C:\Users\CEMETERY\Pictures\goodbrod (2).jpg

Albert was born in Germany and as a young boy came with his family to America. Later he joined up with Company B, Scott’s 900, 1st United States Cavalry.  A.J. Goodbrod is a veteran of the Civil War.  He was wounded 9 times during his enlistment.  He was shot down near Fairfax Courthouse and after lying on the field for 7 days and being passed over many times for dead, he was found by soldiers detailed to do the burying and taken to a Washington D.C. Hospital where he remained for 5 months.  He was a farmer, served as Marshall and councilman and owned the Centennial Hotel. 


James Pyle OS2-151-2 James was the first Senator from Union County.  With each family working hard in doing their part to build this area James did his part by developing the road through Pyle’s Canyon. Much rock needed to be cleared away for the road.  We also have buried here Keller Bartholemew  OS2-225-8 and several others who are noted in our books as having been “killed in blasts while working in Pyle’s Canyon”.  


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James Myers OS2-225-3    

Located just north of the office is the marker of James Myers and Thomas Smith.  James Myers had a ranch on Balm Creek.  He was preparring to retire from his freighting business and go into stock raising.  On July 12, 1878 he was heading to Umatilla on his last run when James, Thomas and 2 other freighters were attacked by Indians.  This most likely happened while they were still sleeping.  They were killed at a point previously called Crawford’s Hill but became known as “Dead Man’s Pass”. 



Jones Family OS2-232-1,2,3,4

There are several articles in the LaGrande Evening Observer from 12/1906 that tell the story of this family of 8. Apparently they ate some home canned beans for supper one night.  After which they became sick.  Within a few days the mother and 3 of the children had perished from Ptomaine poisoning.  


Anna Ratz OS2-236-3

There is a mystery behind Anna’s death.  In the East Oregonian it tells the story of Mrs. Ratz leaving her home sometime in the early morning.  Her husband awoke to find her gone.  He roused the neighbors around 4 a.m.  to help in the search.  Her clothes were found near the creek.  Her body was not found until some hours later.  She was discovered with her hands tied behind her back but in such a way that she could have done it herself.  The inquest found no motive for suicide and yet it was not evident how anyone could entice her to leave her home.  No more of this story is found in the paper.  

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OUTBREAKS 

We find published in the papers stories from 1909 stating that Union had an outbreak of Diphtheria and also Scarlett Fever.  The railroad was closed as well as churches and schools.  A curfew was set up so that no one under the age of 19 could be on the streets.  Many families lost their children.  You will find many graves for children and some are marked by sheep. 


 National Cemetery History

(Information taken from the National Cemetery Administration web site)

For Veterans.  Excerpts from “History of Government Furnished Headstones and Markers.” The original standard grave marker precedes the establishment of national cemeteries in 1862 and actually has its origin in the frontier days of this country prior to the Civil War. A wooden board with a rounded top became the standard.  No centralized system for recording burials existed before then. In 1865, when burials in national cemeteries approached 100,000, serious consideration began to be given to long range economy to maintain the wooden headboards then in use.  In 1873, the first design for stones was adopted.  The Civil War-type of headstone was furnished not only for the unmarked graves of that war but for the unmarked graves of eligible deceased of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Spanish American War and Indian Campaigns.  You will find several stones of this original design marking the graves of many brave Veterans in our cemetery.  The stone has a rounded top with a shield emblem. It gives the soldiers Name, Rank and Company served.  You can learn more about their service by looking up their company on line.  There are many veterans buried here from various wars.  C:\Users\CEMETERY\Pictures\2003-01\IMGP0130 (1).JPG

William Conklin Cusick OS1-43-19   

In 1864 William joined the Union Army as a volunteer.  He was sent to the 1st OR Infantry where it was their duty to keep an eye on the Nez Perce Indians. However the native people remained quiet so William, with some time on his hands, sent for a book on botany.  Sometime after being discharged he and his brother settled in the Powder Valley doing some ranching. For 4 decades Cusick undertook pioneering botanical explorations of the remote Wallowa and Blue Mountain ranges until blindness and deafness overcame him.  At one time he had nearly 40 taxa (species) bearing the Cusick name and Mount. Cusick  in Wallowa County is named for him.


Charles C. Coffinberry OS1-34-9 

Charles left home, Ohio, at age 18 to become a peddler and sold goods throughout the country.  In 1857 he went to Seneca Kansas and helped to lay out that city.  He continued on his travels until he came to Union in about 1886 where he started up a carpenter trade. 

While in Kansas he was elected for the state legislature and in addition he held many other offices in their government.  When the war broke out he raised two companies of soldiers who became part of the 7th & 10th Kansas Cavalry.  He helped to pass the prohibition bill in 1873.   

The Saari Family OS1-83-4,5,6

In the old cemetery books we have one notation beside this family which reads, “Death seemingly rather mysterious.”  This family of 3 died within a week of each other.

The Swackhamer Family OS1-27 graves 2-10  Father Samuel migrated to Union around 1862-63. He had a freighting business that took him to the Dalles, where he met his wife, Clara.  He served several terms as the Sheriff of Union.  C:\Users\CEMETERY\Pictures\swackhamer.png

It was while he was sheriff that tragedy struck his family.  This is from an article in the July 5, 1879 Grant County Newspaper “Union Sentinel: An affliction that has befallen our respected citizen, Sheriff Swackhamer, has cast a gloom over the entire community.  On last Sunday his youngest child was buried beside the fresh graves of its brother and three little sisters.  But one child, the oldest of a family of six, remains; in the silent home of the dead, the victims of that fell destroyer, diphtheria.”   

Samuel continued to serve in Union government in serveral different areas. C:\Users\CEMETERY\Pictures\2003-01\IMGP0243.JPG


Conrad Swackhamer is Samuel’s Father and Hiram Dodge is his wife Clara’s Father. OS2-161-6 Just south of the Chapel walkway.










The Phy Family OS1-5-1-10

John M. Phy brought his family with him to Oregon.  Although he is buried elsewhere, his sons John F., Marshall, William, John A.  and daughter Maggie are all buried here.  


William T. Phy had the acclaim of being the proprietor of the Hot Lake Sanitorium, building it up to a prominence in the northwest.  He was also a leading surgeon in the west.  Hazel is his second wife.  His son Mark was also a physician.Dr William Thomas Phy

John A. Phy only lived to the age of 10. He was killed when a brother was moving a gun to put it away safely and it went off for an unknown reason hitting John in the head.  

John F. Phy was the Sheriff of Union at the time of the Kelsey Porter murder case.  John being reported as the one to fix the rope around the neck of Porter.

Kelsey Porter OS1-103-2

The only man legally hung in Union County.  Porter was tried and found guilty  for the shooting of the Mache family, Benjamen, Mary and their son 17-year-old Joseph on 1/1/1896. The hanging occurred 11/19/1897 at the old courthouse.  This is now the Union High School and you can still see the barred windows at the back.  You can find more information about this case by looking it up online.

Robert Eakin 1910.JPG

Judge Robert Eakin OS1-29-9

Judge Eakin has his roots in Ireland.  In 1866 his family moved to Eugene where he attended college.  By 1875 he had made his way to Union where he was appointed to the office of Judge.  He was known for adhering to the line of justice and equity.  He was highly respected by all and a champion for the principles of truth.  He was also judge of the above case of Kelsey Porter.

William Roth OS1-2-10  William was born in Germany where he learned to be a cooper (barrel maker). He came to Union in 1864 learning more skills along the way.  He built one of the buildings housing the Union Museum in 1881. 


John T. Outhouse OS1-85-5

When the territory of Oregon was first established many people worked hard to get schools for the children. Finally in 1851 the first free school system was established and John was asked to be the first teacher.  He had over 20 students and was paid less than $100 per year.  This was the beginning of what we now have for a school system.  His wife Lavina started teaching when the first school was built in LaGrande, called the “White School.”  They spent many years teaching together.


W. T. and Belle Wright OS1-14-1&4

Isabel “Belle” Wright married W.T. Wright in 1870.  Belle started teaching in schools when she was 16.  They met while she was teaching here and attending college at EOU (at its beginning). Of the many things she did, Belle was instrumental in starting the “Union Cemetery Society” and the 

“Public Reading Room”.  W.T. or William organized the National Bank of Union.  He was 

on the school board, Mayor, and held many other offices as Union developed.  


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Katie Wright OS1-39-4  Katie is buried next to her parents.  They were an influential family and sent a likeness to Italy and had her stone carved to look like her.  For over 100 years flowers have been placed in her marble hands by unknown persons. 



Abel E. Eaton OS1-13-6

Abel had little education but studied the dictionary.  This qualified him to teach school which he did on several occasions.  He made his way to what is now known as Baker City he purchased a scythe for 50 cents and went to work cutting wild hay to sell to the freighters.  He continued to build up businesses here in Union, one being the Woolen Mill.  He is reported to have been the first Mayor of Union.  He donated much to the Willamette University and Eaton Hall is named for him.  

Nicholas Tarter OS1-73-5

A pioneer emigrant, born in Prussia, Germany.


Monday, January 18, 2021

Glenna Keiser Fuller




 1/4/2021


I'm trying not to let myself get too traumatized over this letter writing about the memories of the (Union United) Methodist Church.. I can talk all day long.  But, putting my thoughts down on paper….Not so much...So, here goes, 



My earliest memory was me standing on stage to recite an Easter Poem in 1942-43. I got stage fright and my mom had to come and get me.  I was crying. 


I went to Sunday School there when I was a toddler.  Mrs. Miller was my Sunday School Teacher (Karen’s grandmother).  She gave everyone a lollie-pop. 


My sister in law (Pan Spain) was married there.  I was her matron of honor.


The reception for my father-In-law’s  funeral ( Gene Fuller) was put on by the Church ladies.  One being Ruth Mitchel. 


I remember going to Richard Erwin grandmother’s funeral.  I might have been 2 1/2 years old.  I was standing in the pew next to my mom.  


Glenna Keiser Fuller


Friday, January 1, 2021

Main Street Union



 

Union's Hsitory by Caroline Davis Young

 Carolyn Davis Young 

12/7/2020


One of my most fond memories about the Methodist Church in Union is of our Primary Sunday School class.  My Great Aunt, Elida Miller was the beloved teacher.  She truly loved the children. 


Each Sunday we had a lesson from the Bible.  There was a large picture in front of the room.  Each child got a smaller version, perhaps 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 to take home.  Mrs. Miller made those stories come alive. 


My favorite day was “Pioneer Day”.  We all dressed up in what we thought a pioneer would wear.  My Uncle Tex Knight always turned our old wooden wagon into a “Covered Wagon”.  We trudged North on Main Street to the Miller home for a picnic and our Sunday School lesson.  


The long low pale green tables we set at Sunday School were in the Church for years.  Each child had a little chair.  We used the North Room of the Church. 


Another special time came later when we were in high school, even a little younger.  The M.Y.F. (Methodist Youth Fellowship) met Sunday Evening.  We had a lesson and often played volleyball inside the Church.  This was before the Fellowship Hall was built. 


My earliest memory was of Rev. White and his 7 sons.  Perhaps Mr. Fortune was next.  They had a son and daughter ( who were very nice looking). 


Dr. Virgil Bolen, from Eastern Oregon College was the Minister in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.  Mrs. Bolen played the piano.  She was always so gracious.  Leon Bolen, the oldest son had a marvelous voice.  My heart just stopped when he sang. Especially at Easter and Christmas.  The Bolens had several sons. 


Dr. Bolen officiated at my wedding on January 6, 1951 when I married Ronald E. Young from the neighboring ranch out of North Powder.  In those days you sent out formal invitations and had a reception in the Church Parlor, which consisted of punch, coffee, tea, nuts, and a large wedding cake.  Your sisters and best friends were your attendants.  Doctor Bolen did a good job “tying the knot”. Because we were married 65 years! 


Lee Graham and Bette Courtright were also married in the Church about the same time.  Also Jeanne Scroggin and 


For 40 years my mother Eleanar Hall Davis sang in the choir and for funerals and weddings.

 

Mrs. Edith Phy played the piano (1930-1940’s and 1950’s).  Olga Smith, a 4th grade Teacher in Union also played the piano in that era.  Later Mrs. Bolen played Freida Stauffer also.


My father Merton A. Davis served on the board for 40 years.  He was instrumental in getting the Fellowship Hall built in 1955.  In 1969, my folks had their 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration there.  The Fellowship Hall has served many people in many ways- for weddings, receptions and after funerals and it has been an important part of Senior Meals.  


The Beautiful Silver Tea Service was donated to the Union County Museum. It is on display there.  The Church women helped serve at many weddings through the years. 


Union is a wonderful town where some people are born there, live their whole lives there and are buried in the old Victorian Cemetery, when they die.  The Methodist church has been a part of their lives since it was founded in 1863. 


The first Methodist Church in Union was founded by a group of sturdy pioneers.  The building is now owned by the Union County Museum and is fondly known as the “Little White Church”.  It is presently used for a few Museum activities and may be rented for private use.   The Museum is making every effort to maintain and preserve it. 


The Union Methodist Church was served by, and served, many members of my family.  My great Uncle Conrad Miller and Great Grandfather Simond MIller banned together to hold services in the Methodist Faith in the 1960’s  the first church ( The Little White Church) was built on Union’s Main Street in 1873 and by 1904 they has “overgrown: this Church and the new brick Church with its magnificent stained glass windows was built.  The dedication service was held Dec 3rd 1905 with the board of directors, G.F. Hall, Mrs. W.T. Wright and DR. W.H.Ewin in attendance. 


It is my hope that this dedicated group of volunteer citizens can be successful in turning this beautiful church into a Community Center for the entire area to use and enjoy.  


A new life awaits this building with your help.


Carolyn Davis Young