WPA Interviews

INTERVIEW WITH MR. HUGH L. MONTGOMERY, Brownsville, Oregon. November 1937.

My name is Hugh L. Montgomery.

My father was Robert Montgomery, born in Howard County, Missouri in 1827.

Died at Brownsville, Oregon, Jan. 1, 1881.

My mother's name was Eveline G. Brown (Montgomery). She was born in Campbell County, Tennessee. The exact date of her birth I cannot tell. She was a daughter of Hugh L. Brown for whom the town of Brownsville, Oregon was named. My name, Hugh L., was given me, of course, in honor of this maternal grandfather. My mother died in 1911. Both of my parents are buried in the old McHargue Cemetery on Courtney Creek, about four miles southeast of Brownsville.

My parents were married here at Brownsville, or somewhere in this vicinity in 1850. Their family consisted of eleven children. Their names, in the order of their birth, are as follows:

John Montgomery, the oldest of the family, born in Sept. 1851.

Lizzie Montgomery. She married "Bert" (A.B.) Templeton.

Martha Montgomery. She died while quite young, about five years of age I believe. I do not remember her.

Hugh L. Montgomery (myself) born 1856.

Couey Montgomery.

Ollie Montgomery. She married Robert Templeton. (Note: Died about 1934 L. Haskin.)

George Montgomery.

Robert Montgomery. (Now lives at Medford, Oregon) "Evvy" Montgomery. (She married a man named Hunter) William "Bill" Montgomery. Now living here at Brownsville.

Thomas "Tom" Montgomery. Lives at Portland, Oregon.

The Brown family, my mother's people, arrived in Oregon in 1848, being among the very first settlers in this region. The party consisted of Hugh L. Brown and his family, and James Blakely and family. James Blakely was a nephew of my grandfather and they were always very intimate friends and were associated in business here at Brownsville for many years. James Blakeley was the founder of the town of Brownsville which he named after his uncle, (my grandfather), Hugh L. Brown. These two families took up adjoining claims on the south side of the Calapooia and built cabins. They had the choice of all the land here since the only other settlers in all this region were Wm. Courtney, emigrant of 1846 who had settled on Courtney Creek, and Elias Walters, emigrant of 1847 whose claim was on the Calapooia a short distance below the present town of Brownsville. It is reported on good authority that my grandfather Brown stated, "My first meal on the Calapooia was eaten in the Walters cabin, just below Brownsville.""As I have stated, my Grandfather Brown, and my mother's cousin, Captain James Blakely took up adjoining claims here on the Calapooia. Their claims did not remain side by side, however. After the Whitman massacre, in November, 1847, Rev. Henry Harmon Spaulding of the Nez Perce Indian mission at Lapwai, Idaho, was no longer able to carry on his work for fear of Indian attack. He therefore, came to Oregon City in the Willamette Valley. The Browns and Blakelys, hearing that he was looking for a new home, invited him to come to the Calapooia. They wanted him here as a teacher for their children, and because a religious leader was desirable. Spaulding came to this region, but on looking over the locality reported, "I cannot settle here because you have already taken up all of the good land." In answer to that, my grandfather and James Blakely agreed to move their claim lines apart and let Spaulding take the choicest land between them. This satisfied the old missionary and he settled here, soon building a schoolhouse and opening a school. The exact location of the Spaulding home is where the Goulard house now stands, about one mile east of Brownsville. The locust trees which still grow on that place were planted by Rev. Spaulding. The schoolhouse, which Spaulding, with the help of others built, was some distance further east, near the boundary line of the present George Pugh farm. I cannot remember that first school cabin, but I can remember when there were still scattered logs and stone of the foundations yet in place.

Spaulding taught school only for a few years. He was followed by a young girl who later married George W. Colbert. The wedding of the Colberts was a double affair. The other young man married at the time was named Moody, and later became Governor of Oregon.

My grandfather, Hugh L. Brown, and his partner, James Blakely were the first to establish a store here at Brownsville. The first building was erected on the lot at the corner of South Main St. and Blakely Avenue, where the Blakely memorial now stands. That same store has been continuously in business ever since, that is, from 1852 to 1937. It is now housed in a building on the corner of South Main Street and the Halsey-Brownsville highway, and goes under the name of Cooley and Co. C.W. Cooley, the present owner, is a grandson of Captain James Blakely, one of the founders of the store.

My father came to Oregon in the year 1852. Among those who were members of the same train, and who also settled near Brownsville, were Wm. McHargue and Lewis Tycer Sr. Wm. McHargue was a brother of James McHargue who reached the Calapooia a few years earlier and settled on Courtney Creek. The school and the cemetery there are still called by the McHargue name. William McHargue built the first flour mill at Brownsville. Just what year I am not quite certain, but probably about 1853. The ditch which brought water from the Calapooia to the mill was probably dug in 1855, although some say later.

I think, however, that Andy is wrong in setting the date at 1858. (Here Mr. Montgomery is referring to an incident told by Andrew Kirk) Andy may have seen men working on the ditch in 1858, but I believe that they were merely enlarging the canal at that time. The first ditch dug for the flourmill was a very small one, and when the woolen mill was built to use the same power the ditch was greatly enlarged. That is probably what Andy Kirk saw.

Lewis Tycer, Sr., who came to Oregon with my father's train was the father of the present Lewis Tycer who still lives at Brownsville. The elder "Lewis" had a large family when he reached Oregon. His first wife had died, and he was married a second time. John Tycer, one of the first family, made his home with Wm. McHargue on Courtney Creek for a number of years.

My father, when he reached Oregon, took up a claim several miles east of Brownsville. Mr. Dave Northern now owns part of that claim, and part of it is included in what is known as the "Pirtle ranch". Mr. Pirtle, for whom it is called, is now dead and I do not know the present owner. My father's nearest neighbors in that early time were Lewis Tycer Sr., Andy Warren, son-in-law of H.H. Spaulding, and G.W. Colbert. At a later date Rev. Robert Robe came to that vicinity.

I was born in the old log cabin on my father's donation land claim, but shortly after that, perhaps about the year 1858 or 59, my people moved nearer Brownsville and lived on the part of the Hugh L. Brown claim which my mother inherited from her father. On that place we lived for many years, and I later owned and worked it for many years more or until I moved to Brownsville only a few years ago. When we first lived there our nearest neighbors were John Tycer and William Templeton. John Tycer was another son-in-law of Hugh L. Brown. His wife was Missouri Brown Tycer.

It was on this second place, part of the Brown claim, that I grew up and spent most of my youth. I first went to school in Brownsville. The schoolhouse was a small "box" building situated on the same grounds now occupied by the Brownsville Southside School, but on the north side of the grounds near where the large old maple tree now stands. My first teacher was Mrs. G.W. Colbert. The schoolhouse had but one room. We went to school not more than three months of each year and my schooling was therefore very limited. School was usually kept for only a short time in the spring or summer, so that children might be able to attend with safety. In these days there were few bridges and in the flooded winter stages of the river and the creeks it was unsafe for children to travel alone. The children living on the northside of the Calapooia crossed over at the shallow bars, or over footlogs and drifts. This could not be done in winter when the river was high. There was never any ferry at Brownsville. (Note: This is a mistake on Mr. Montgomery's part. Brownsville was first known as "Kirk's Ferry, and Mr. Alexander Kirk ran a ferry at a point now included in the Brownsville city park. Leslie L. Haskin, field worker.) The present bridge across the Calapooia is that third bridge which I can remember. The first one which I can remember was built when I was about twelve years of age. It was located below the present bridge, and crossed the river at a point so that it came out on the north bank within the eastern limits of the present city park.

The main traveled road in those days passed through the city park and to reach what is now north Brownsville, the way ascended the hill near where the present high school building stands. This was a part of the old Californian gold trail. The marker in the Brownsville Park erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution shows it's former course. South of Brownsville this old road traversed what was known as the "big gap", passing the site of the old town of Union Point. I can remember going to church at the old Union Point United Presbyterian Church. It was a big building, old even when I can first remember it. The road through the "big gap" has been out of practical use for many years, but is being opened up again. It will be a fine connection between Brownsville and the southern part of the county when it is completed. In the early days all of the main lines of travel clung close to the hills and higher ground to escape the swampy lowlands.

The old gap road has been considered quite impassible for many years, but if the first pioneers came back they would think it quite good.

I have said that I went to school in south Brownsville. At that time, when I was ten or twelve years of age there was a Presbyterian church situated directly south of the schoolhouse and across the street. The first Methodist church which I remember was situated just across the street, eastward, from the present Presbyterian church. Part of that old church building is now made over into a residence at present owned and occupied by Mr. Vroman.

Father" John McKinney had a claim west of Brownsville (about one mile). It is situated on land now called the Munker'' place. He built one of the first Methodist meetinghouses on his land at that place. "Father John McKinney was a very prominent Methodist Circuit riders. His wife was a member of the Jason Lee reinforcements. John McKinney Jr., son of "Father" John, had his claim about four miles southwest of Brownsville. The land is now owned by John Sayer. I neglected to say that one of my early teachers was Mrs. Peter Hume. Andrew Kirk, son of Riley Kirk, and grandson of Alexander Kirk was one of my schoolmates. He still lives south of Brownsville. Others of my schoolmates were Henry, George, Joe, and Jim Blakeley. They were all sons of Captain James Blakely. The monument at the corner of Blakely Avenue and South Main Street is in his honor. He lived to be over one hundred years of age.

Speaking of schools, my mother first went to school at the old Spaulding schoolhouse (first went to in Oregon is what he evidently meant). I can recollect a few old logs lying where that schoolhouse stood.

When I, myself, went to school I studied Sanders Readers and also, I believe, an arithmetic written by the same man.

Game was very plentiful when I was a boy. If a person wanted a deer they could go out to the edge of the hills almost anywhere and get one. Ducks and geese were especially plentiful. At my grandfathers house there was a low swale just outside of the yard fence. When I was too small to swing grandfather's heavy rifle I would go duck hunting with it there. I would take the big old gun and creep down to the yard fence. In the wintertime there were always ducks swimming there. I would stick the old gun between the rails of the fence, and resting it there, wait. When two duck swam close together and in line with my position I would aim and shoot, getting both of them with one shot. Powder and shot were expensive luxuries in those days and I felt that I should take my time and get as much as possible with each charge.

As I said, deer were everywhere, and meat was easy to get, but for real commercial hunting the young men would go further back into the hills. One winter Sam and Robert Templeton went in to a camp at Bellknap Springs on the McKenzie River and hunted. While there they killed four hundred deer. They paid no attention to trying to save the meat. They were after the hides exclusively. That was one of the ways that young men could get spending money in those days.

My father was a farmer, but he also worked at carpenter work and as a millwright. Father and Wm. McHargue, and others, helped to build the old Finley flour mill on the Calapooia near Crawfordsville. That was the first grist mill to be erected south of Oregon City.

All of these old families in Brownsville are intermarried and closely related. Father came to Oregon with Uncle Jim McHargue. Jim McHargue's wife was father's sister. My father married a daughter of Hugh L. Brown.

John Tycer, his nearest neighbor married another of the Brown girls. Her name was Missouri. John Brown, son of Hugh L. Brown married Amelia Spaulding, daughter of H.H. Spaulding. One of my sisters, Ollie, married Robert Templeton. George Cooley, who came about 1852, married a daughter of Capt. James Blakeley. All of the Browns, Montgomerys, Blakelys, Templetons, Tycers, McHargues, Kirks, Finleys, and Walters, - all very early settlers, are more or less closely connected by intermarrying.

When my father built his first house on the "Brown Claim" he was forced to go to Harrisburg for the brick used. That was bout the year 1864. When he built the present house on the "Montgomery Hopyard, in 1877, there was a brickyard here at Brownsville on the Amon farm. (1/2 mile east of Brownsville). There was also an early brickyard west of Brownsville on the old "Father" John McKinney place. The old Blakely house, still standing in the field just east of Brownsville was standing there long before I can remember. I presume it was built about 1852. The "Rebham" house now standing on Blakely Avenue, south of the street and a bit west of the southside school, was built at about the same time or perhaps a few years later (perhaps 1860). My grandfather, Hugh L. Brown lived there when he died in 1888.

The first post office which I remember was situated on the westside of South Main Street near where the Halsey road intercepts the street.

Alexander Kirk was then the postmaster. Mail came from Albany, carried on horseback. Mail for the little settlement of Mable over the mountains on the Mohawk was also carried through Brownsville. The carrier took the trip over the mountain about once a week.

When I was speaking of the Whitman massacre and the Spauldings I should also have told you about the Osborn family. They were among the refugees from the Whitman Mission who came to this region. They escaped the Indians by hiding under the floor of a cabin. The Osborns, like the Spauldings and the Templetons were strict Presbyterians. I can remember still hearing Rev.

H.H. Spaulding preach. The Osborns lived east of Brownsville on what is now the Wimer place (5 miles east). Another prominent Presbyterian who came here in the early days was Rev. Edward Geary. He built the house now standing at the corner of South Main Street and Blakely Avenue, and he also planted the big walnut tree which now stands at the west side of the house.

Rev. H.H. Spaulding was Linn County's first school superintendent. Rev.

Geary was one of the early state school superintendents.

The first flouring mill in this section was the Finley Mill on the Calapooia near Crawfordsville. It is still standing, but the present building was erected about the year 1853 or 54 after the first building, built in 1848 was washed out. The second grist mill in this region was the McHargue mill, still standing in Brownsville, built sometime about 1853 or 54. After the McHargue mill was erected the customers at the Finley mill fell off greatly, since people no longer wished to travel the seven unnecessary miles to reach it. To correct that R.C. Finley built a third mill, this time about seven or eight miles further down the Calapooia and near the present town of Shedd. This mill, still standing, was erected in the early 50's and was long known as "The Boston Mill." That mill is still standing and in operation. It's present owner is a Mr. Thompson.

Before these mills were erected my Grandfather and father went to Oregon City for their flour, as well as for other merchandise not procurable nearer.

Another very early settler in this region was my uncle, Nathaniel Gray Rice. He commonly went by the name of Gray Rice. His wife was my father's sister, Elizabeth Mongomery. Mrs. Lerwell, who lives a mile or two west of Crawfordsville, is his daughter. The old Rice claim was in that neighborhood.

One of the first tragedies of this region was the death of my oldest brother. He was killed by his own son. The boy was a spoiled, unruly youngster. He had been reproved by his father and in anger he took a gun, shot his mother, his father, and a neighbor, John McKercher, who happened to be passing. This John McKercher was at the time the owner of the Finley Flour mill.

The first saw mill that I remember was situated on Brush Creek above Crawfordsville, but I know that there had been a previous mill which was run by water power and owned by the miller Finley. The mill which I remember on Brush Creek was an old style Sash Mill. The saw ran up and down in a sash or frame. When I was small I remember seeing them pull logs in to this mill, using yoked oxen. When I was twelve or thirteen years of age I used to work hauling lumber from that mill.

Among the early settlers of whom I retain a clear memory was Mr. H.J.C. Averill. He was a surveyor, Justice of the Peace, and a prominent public figure. He was married about three times and one of his wives was married about three times so that his family had a number of different "breeds" within it. He had children in his household named Averill, Jack, Bilyeu, and perhaps other names. It was a well-mixed tribe. Luther White was another pioneer surveyor, pioneer of the Diamond Hill region in southern Linn County. Besides being a surveyor he was a Presbyterian preacher. His son, Robert, (Bob White) was a Sheriff of Linn County.

Brownsville and vicinity had a number of expert workmen in the early days. Josiah Osborn, previously mentioned, was a wagonmaker. An old German named Joseph Sagio was a cabinetmaker. A Mr. Arnold was a chairmaker. I cannot remember his first name, but he had four sons, Tom, John, Bill, and Jim. Bill, besides making chairs like his father, also stocked guns and made violins.

I was married in 1876. My wife's name was Jane Lesley, born 1861. Her people were pioneers of 1865 or later. My wife is dead. I have one son living-F.T. Montgomery who lives at San Francisco. He is a retired Lieutenant of the United States Navy."

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.