WPA Interviews for Linn County Oregon

Leslie E. Haskins given as collector. The following is a sketch of facts in Mr. Bateman's life, given by his daughter, present owner of the book.

John Bateman, pioneer of 1847; Phoebe Bateman, his wife; They arrived at Vancouver on November 1, 1847. Spent the winter there and then constructing a flatboat crossed the Columbia River and proceeded to Union Point, in Linn County. Remained for one year at Union Point and then moved to the Bateman Donation Land Claim on the Calapooia River a few miles below Brownsville.

There resided until his death in 1895. Mrs. Phoebe Bateman died April 8, 1895. John Bateman was the first County Treasurer of Linn County, 1850; served for one year, but during that time no moneys were collected except one 50 cent fine, therefore his official duties were not great. Other officers elected at the same time were Hugh L. Brown and Captain James Blakely. In 1851 Mr. Bateman paid his first taxes, being "The first man to pay taxes in Linn County". Mr. Bateman was the first Recording Steward for the Methodist Church in Brownsville. The first meeting of the Linn County Court was held under a maple tree in front of the Alexander Kirk cabin in south Brownsville. (Note: This old Kirk residence is still standing. L.Haskin, field worker.)

The wagon train in which the Batemans came to Oregon was known as "the train of the bareheaded man". The reason was this: Early on the journey Mr. Bateman one night put his hat upon the hounds of his wagon and it was stolen. Because of this misfortune he was forced to complete the trip without head covering. In this way the train received its name.

Indians about the Bateman claim were common and meddlesome but not dangerous. One of the first "Indian Incidents of the Bateman family was an occasion when two of the little girls were crying loudly in the cabin, and a baby in its sister's arms was also crying. They all looked up at a sound to find every window full of Indian faces looking in and laughing at the weeping family.

On their way to Oregon the Bateman's passed the Whitman cabins and could still observe the blood stains on the floors. They were very much frightened by the Indians, but "none of the Indians molested them.

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.