WPA Interviews

Althouse, Anna M.

Leslie L. Haskins
Linn County
5 June 1940

Interview with Anna M. Althouse, Albany, Oregon.

My name is Anna M. Althouse. I was born here in Albany on 19 March 1861. My birthplace was in the west end of Albany where my father owned a considerable tract of land at an early date.

My father's name was Samuel Henry Althouse. He was born in the state of Virginia on 17 July 1825. I cannot tell the exact place of my father's birth, but I know that previous to coming to Oregon he had lived in New York and that his start across the plains was some where in Illinois.

Father came to Oregon in 1847, arriving with Thomas and Walter Monteith who were really the founders of this town. At the time when he reached Oregon father was just a young chap, perhaps 21 or 22 years old. None of his family came with him, as he was just a young single man free to go on any adventure that attracted him.

The Monteiths, who were father's friends, came from New York. Thomas Monteith was born at Broadalbin, New York and thus Broadalbin Street in Albany, Oregon, received its name. Albany Oregon was named after Albany, New York, which was the principal city near the Monteith's eastern home.

One of the first pieces of work which my father undertook after reaching Albany was the beginning of a large frame building-the first frame dwelling ever erected in Albany. It stood directly on the line between the Thomas and Walter claims so that each could reside on his own claim yet live in the same house. Originally it stood on Washington Street at the corner of 2nd Street but it has since been moved and remodeled, now facing 2nd St. in about the middle of the block. Owing to the gold rush which caused a shortage of labor, this house was not entirely finished until 1850.

My father was one of the workman who left Albany in the gold rush of 1849. He was quite successful at the mines and came back with greatly improved finances. By the way, to preface a story of the gold days, I will say that very few of the Althouse family are left and none of them except my father ever came to Oregon. I have never seen any of my father's people except one sister. Well, when my father was at the mines he one day saw a door in a city with the name, "Abe Althouse: painted on it. Someone suggested to father that he go in and inquire whether it might not be some relative. His answer was, "No, I am not looking for any relations. I happen to have some money now. If I should happen to meet a relative I might not have it long.

The Magnolia Flouring Mill in Albany was one of the first large manufacturing firms here. The founders of that mill were J. Driggs, Samuel Hill, Walter and Thomas Monteith and my father, Samuel Althouse. The Magnolia Mill was situated on the banks of the Calapooia River at the west end of 1st. St. It was begun in 1851 and obtained its power at first from a dam in the Calapooia River and later from the Albany Santiam Water Ditch.

Another industry which my father founded was a planing mill which he erected in 1852. It was situated at the foot (north end) of Lyons St. The power was water from the Calapooia River. That old planing mill is still in operation but is now known as "Sears Planing Mill."

Besides the above my father was the owner of a tin shop at Albany.

When I was a small girl our home was in the west end of Albany, just east of where the Albany General Hospital now stands. Father owned all of that block. Then father became interested in the planing mill and wished to be nearer his business. He purchased land and built this house where I live in 1868. Even now it is not a small house as compared to others about it, but then it was almost a castle. However, all this section of the town was vacant then and there were no sidewalks or other city improvements. It was almost like moving to the country.

Note: The house is a large old residence and is situated on 5th St., south side, in the middle of the block just east of Lyon St.

My mother's name was Maria (Hager) Althouse. Mother was born in 1830. Where, I cannot tell, but she was living near Albany, New York when she married my father. Thomas Monteith and my father went back to New York in 1854 and when they returned each brought a young wife back with them. The return trip was by way of the Isthmus of Panama. From New York they took the steamer George L. Law as far as Panama, then across the Isthmus on mule back and from there to San Francisco on the steamer John L. Stevens. The wife of Thomas Monteith whom he married in Iowa was Christine Maria Dunbar Monteith.

My mother went east to visit her people in 1869. When she returned my father's sister came with her. Her name was Naomi Althouse and she married S. B. Young of Albany who was a prominent early merchant here. Still later my grandmother Althouse came. She was 93 years old. The Althouse family used to be a large one and now there are none left save myself and my cousin Percy Young of this city.

The Democrats ruled things pretty well in Albany during the Civil War. My father, as a Republican, aroused considerable enmity. Feeling ran very high then and my father always felt that if there was real trouble he would be the first one to be killed. He always kept his loaded musket by his bedside in those days. I still have a flag which my mother made in those days. When ever there was a Union victory she would take it out and celebrate.

My grandfather and grandmother were Methodists. The first Methodist Church was in the west end of Albany and on 9th St., next to the canal there. My mother always attended the Congregational Church.

My father and mother were the parents of four girls. They had no sons. The sisters were:

Elizabeth Althouse. Her married name is Merrill. She lives in Cal. Born 1856.

Christine Althouse. Born 8 April 1858. Died 1924.

Anna Althouse, the informant. Born 19 March 1861.

Sarah Catherine Althouse. Died 1924.

My oldest sister was the only one of the family who ever married. Father died in 1888. Mother died in 1910.

I should have said that my father did not build this house but that he bought it partly finished and completed it. There are many old walnut, butternut and hickory trees growing on this lot. Mother brought the seeds from the east when she was back in 1869. The hickory trees bear very well here and are a rather exceptional tree to grow in Oregon.

I went to school and graduated at Albany College. I was very young then and so was the school. My oldest sister was also a graduate of that school. My first teachers there were D. and Mrs. Bushnall. I also went to school at the Freeland Private Academy and at the public school. The public school which I first attended was situated at the west end of the park where the new courthouse is situated.

Ferry Street in this city is so named because in the early days there was a Ferry landing at its head. The man who ran the ferry lived on the other side of the river.

My father's partner in the planing mill was a man named Best. He later moved to California.

I wish that I could tell you more about my father's life but he was a quiet sort of a man and never told us much about his early days. I wish that the family history could be more completely recorded for I am the last one remaining and my heart is bad so that I will not be here much longer. I am now 79 years old but I went out and voted today. This old house is very large and lonely to be living here alone.

Copyright © 2000 Patricia Dunn. All rights reserved. This transcription may not be reproduced in any media without the express written permission by the author. Permission has been given by the Transcriber to publish on the LGS web site.