WPA Interviews

INTERVIEW, December, 27, 1937

Interview with John W. Propst, resident of Linn County. Home situated on the Santiam Highway about four miles east of Albany.

John W. Propst was born at Sugar Grove, Menard County, Illinois, April 12, 1837. He is therefore, at this writing, one hundred years and eight months of age. He continued to reside with his parents at Sugar Grove until he was fifteen years of age. His early schooling was received in the schools of that place.

On March 28, 1852 Mr. Propst's parents, whose names were Anthony Propst and Lucinda Powell Propst, together with their five children, started for Oregon by ox team. With them went, also, Franklin Propst, a cousin of John, Jack Lowe and Anthony Campbell. The start was made under the encouragement of letters received from relatives in Oregon who had emigrated in the previous year. Their outfit consisted of two wagons, nine yoke of oxen, two horses and a light wagon. Besides this they took with them twelve cows and a bull, all of which, together with their work oxen survived to reach the coast. The long trek was started on the 28th of March, and John Propst, oldest of the children, was fifteen years old just fifteen days after the start.

Although this emigration ended in tragedy it was, in the main, an uneventful one. No particular trouble was experienced from Indians. A peaceful attitude towards the savages won them a safe passage. However, there was one alarm although it did not prove to be serious. Just as camp was being made one night and the Captain of the train had said, "Boys, unyoke your oxen," they saw a woman coming running waving her bonnet at them. The captain said, "Indians, boys, get your guns!" The woman on coming closer informed the captain that the Indians had waylaid their train, killed her husband, and butchered their oxen. On going back to investigate it was found, however, that the husband was safe. The Indians had simply taken one ox and butchered it and made away with the meat.

The captain of the train on this journey was Van DeLaskmutt. He brought the train safely through but there was no means by which he could save them from the ravages of disease, and during the latter part of the journey many of the immigrants became sick. The particular disease, which troubled them, was what is known as "Mountain Fever", probably some form of typhoid or malarial fever. Both of John's parents became seriously sick with this disease and when they reached what is now Umatilla County, Oregon, his mother died. The train rested there a few days for the burial and then proceeded on its way westward.

Their route was by way of the Barlow Pass. Crossing the mountains, the pass was quite high and they came within sight of perpetual snow. In the meantime the father, Anthony Propst was becoming weaker each day, and when the village of Foster was reached it was no longer possible for him to travel. He was therefore left behind with only his young son John to care for him while the rest of the train hurried on to Oregon City to bring back help. During their absence the father, Anthony Propst died and was buried by his son at that place.

The town of Foster here mentioned should not be confused with the present town of Foster, Linn County. The present Foster is at the foot of the South Santiam Pass, while the old Foster was situated at the Willamette Valley side of the Barlow Pass, and perhaps fourteen miles east of Oregon City. At that time there were a few people living at Foster and there was a small country store at that place. In certain old letters preserved by the family this place is referred to as "Foster's Ranch." At the present time the only remaining trace of the place is suggested in the name of "Foster Road" leading eastward from Oregon City.

In those days a man by the name of Cutter had a sawmill in Cutter Creek about three miles from Foster. In descending the Barlow road on the west slope the way was so steep that it was necessary to tie small trees or logs behind the wagons to retard their descent. At the foot of the hill the whole roadside was lined with trees, brush, logs, stumps, and timbers of every sort, which had been discarded after the descent.

In the main, Mr. Propst says, the crossing of the plains was pleasant. "We had our music books with us and frequently gathered at one of the camps in the evenings, and many were the songs that we sang."

John Propst was the oldest of his parent's family. After their death the children were put under the guardianship of their maternal uncles of the Powell family, who had come in 1851. John went to live with his uncle, Noah Powell, in Yamhill County from 1853 to 1855. Then he came to Linn County and lived with his uncle John A. Powell who had settled on the banks of the Santiam River about seven miles east of Albany. John Powell was guardian of his nephews John and James Propst, and their sister Margaret.

Alfred Powell was the guardian for their brother, Henry Taylor Propst and their sister Mary Eveline. By the time that John Propst had reached the age of eighteen years he had accumulated some money, and this, together with his portion of his parents' estate was turned over to him to purchase a farm on which he might start in life for himself. Judge S.D. Haley of Linn County advised this course to his guardian, believing John to be at that age capable of managing and arranging his own affairs. One hundred and fifteen acres of good land were purchased from a man by the name of Hurt (spelling?) for $6.00 per acre. This land was located about four miles east of Albany, and about one half mile south of Knox Butte.

Mr. Propst still owns this land. The house is now situated about forty rods north of the Santiam Highway. On this farm, purchased for John Propst, he still lives and never since its purchase has there been a dollars debt upon it. John Propst worked in a "sash sawmill" owned by his uncle, John A. Powell, which was situated on the Santiam River, and in this way earned enough money and lumber to build a house on his farm. This house, built in 1861, is still standing on Mr. Propst's place and is in good condition although no longer used as a residence. It stands just back of the more recent, larger house in which Mr. Propst now lives, and is used for a storehouse. The fireplaces in this first house are still in place and in good condition.

At the time when John Propst settled on his new place, his nearest neighbors were John, Bill, Joe and Bob Earl. The Earl family were pioneers of 1845 and were the first family to cross the Santiam River on the ferry at old Syracuse. Milton Hale arrived at Syracuse locality first, and finding the river too high to ford, proceeded with as, jackknife, adz, and auger to construct a ferry. While he was building it other families arrived, among them the Earl family. When the ferry was finished the Earls first crossed it. These Earl Brothers were young men whose father had died while crossing the plains.

Other neighbors who were prominent in the vicinity at that early date, (1852) were:-The Miller family and Powell families on the Santiam, a Mr. Nixon who conducted a blacksmith shop, the Knox family for whom Knox Butte is named, and Jesse B. Parrish whose house, built about 1852, is still standing a few miles further east. The old Parrish House is now the oldest building in that immediate community. Jesse Parrish, Mr. Propst said, was a very fine man and well liked. At one time he owned a large tract of land in the Knox Butte neighborhood, but at a little later date removed to the Sodaville vicinity where some of his relatives still live. Jesse Parrish was a son of Rev. E.E. Parrish, pioneer Methodist missionary.

On the 1st day of November, 1860, John Propst was married to Miss Margaret Jane Cole. Her father was Chancy Cole of the Scio neighborhood. Margaret Jane Cole was born in Iowa, in 1845. Thus she was seven years of age when her parents brought her to Oregon in 1852. Chancy Cole, her father, was born in 1810. Immediately after their marriage, young Mr. and Mrs. Propst moved into their house which John had built in the previous year. There they lived together until the death of Mrs. Propst in ____?. Mr. Propst continued to live on at the old place and still lives there in his 101th year (100 yrs. 8 mo.). Living with him in his home at the present time are four generations, vis. John W. Propst, Quincy E. Propst, his son, now over 71 years of age, Elmer Propst, a grandson, 43 years of age, and a number of children of the latter, great-grand-children of the aged patriarch. The grandson, Elmer Propst, is now the active manager of the farm.

Farm trading for this pioneer farm in the early days was mostly done at Albany. The Monteiths were among the prominent early merchants. A man by the name of McConnell ran one store, and at a very early date Demas Beach carried on a mercantile business. One of the very early Ferries across the Willamette was run by Ashby Pearce. The site of that ferry was on Ellsworth Street, just where the present modern steel bridge is situated. Another ferry was run a few blocks up the river at the site of the former Albany bridge. That was at the end of Ferry Street, and Ferry Street, in name, memorializes that old ferry. At a later date Mr. Pearce purchased the upper ferry and operated both of them. It was at that old Ferry Street Ferry that the old Cannon, famous in Albany's history was taken out into the middle of the Willamette and sunk. That was done to prevent its use in a political celebration-the losers being unwilling that the winners should use it in celebrating.

The ferries were run by the power of the river current. A long sea-grass rope was anchored far up the river from the ferry's course. This kept the boat from going down stream with the current, while the boat received its momentum by being held at an angle with the current-the front end being slanted upstream. By changing the angle the boat could be propelled in either direction. Later ferries were constructed with high, elevated cables on which a trolley ran. The power, again, was received by the push of the current.

John A. Powell and Alfred Powell were maternal uncles of the subject of this sketch. These men were both preachers in the Christian Church. In 1852 John A. Powell became the first missionary of the Christian Church in Oregon. John and Alfred Powell and others organized the Central Christian Church on the Santiam River in Linn County in 1851. John Powell was the first pastor and preached on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. Alfred Powell was co-pastor and preached there on the 1st and 3rd Sundays.

John Powell continued as pastor of this church until within a few weeks of his death, which occurred in June, 1890. The first church building was near the Santiam River about seven miles east of Albany. It was built in 1854. The lumber for this building was mostly supplied by John Powell who operated a "sash mill" nearby. In 1876 a new building was erected. This structure was situated about one mile further west than the first one. It was a well built building, painted without and plastered within and had a tall steeple over the entrance at the front. The church lapsed about the year 1927, and the building was razed.

John W. Propst, the subject of this sketch, was of German descent. His grandfather, Nicholas Propst, born in Germany, ran away to America to escape military service. Anthony Propst, son of Nicholas Propst and father of John, was born in Virginia in 1810. The following is the Propst family history in so far as it is clearly known.

Nicholas Propst. Born in Germany. Emigrated to America and lived in Virginia.

Anthony Propst, son of Nicholas Propst, born in Greenbriar County, in Virginia, Sept. 22, 1810. Died at Foster, at east end of the Barlow Pass in Oregon, September 19, 1852.

Lucinda Powell Propst, wife of Anthony Propst, was born Feb. 18, 1817. Died on Butter Creek, Umatilla County, Oregon, Aug. 1852.

Anthony Propst and Lucinda Powell were married in Illinois. (1836) Their children are as follows:

John W. Propst. (subject of this sketch) Born Apr. 12, 1837. He is still living at the age of 100 years, 8 months.

Sarah Propst. (Lived to the age of seven.)

Mary Eveline Propst. Born Mar. 18, 1841. Died (?)

James M. Propst. Born June 1, 1843. Died July 14, 1901.

Margaret A. Propst. Born Aug. 25, 1845. Died July 31, 1907.

Henry Taylor Propst. Born Jan. 25, 1849. Died (?).

John W. Propst and Margaret Jane Cole were married Nov. 1, 1860. Miss Cole was born near Harper's Ferry, Virginia in 1845. Died 1918. Their children are a follows:

Quincy E. Propst, Born July 31, 1861. (Still living, 1937)

Frank W. Propst, Born July 11, 1863. Died Jan. 30, 1893.

Leona Propst, Born Dec. 15, 1867. Died Oct. 7, 1888.

Quincy E. Propst (son of John W. Propst) married Ida Goan, in 1891. Their children are:

Leona Propst, born August 27, 1892.

Elmer Propst, born March 23, 1894.

(Quincy E. Propst was a graduate of Albany College, 1886, and served as Deputy Sheriff 1894-1896 and 1904-1906.) Linn County.

Elmer Propst, son of Quincy E. Propst married Anna Christ in 1916. Their children, all living, are:

Vanita Propst, born Oct. 12, 1917.

Eldon Propst, born Jan. 12, 1922

Allen Propst, born Jan. 11, 1923.

Wilma Propst, born Feb. 18, 1934.

Bruce Propst, born Nov. 26, 1936.

Of the above family four generations now live in the Propst home on the Santiam Highway, east of Albany. They are:

John W. Propst

Quincy E. Propst

Elmer Propst.

Five children of Elmer Propst as listed above.

Of the Powell family, maternal relatives of John W. Propst, the following dates are given:

Maternal uncles -

Noah Powell, born Sept. 24, 1808. Died March 6, 1875.

John A. Powell, born Feb. 20, 1807. Died Jun. 8, 1880

Alfred Powell, born July 10, 1910. Died Dec. 18, 1881.

(This Powell family, active Christian Church workers should not be confused with the Joab Powell tribe (Baptists) of the same general region in Linn County. They were not related.)

The following data concerning the mother of John W. Propst is copied from Powell Family History:

Lucinda Powell, born in Champain Co. Ohio, moved with her parents to Sugar Grove, Menard Co., Ill., in 1825. In 1836 she was married to Anthony Propst. She was a faithful member of the Church of Christ. Anthony Propst, born in Greebriar County, Virginia, came to Illinois with his parents and settled in Sugar Grove sometime between 1825 and 1830. He was baptized in the Lutheran Church in infancy.

They lived in Sugar Grove until March 28, 1852 when they, with five children and Franklin Propst, a nephew, and Anthony Campbell, started for Oregon."

Both Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Propst died of "mountain fever" on the way to Oregon.

Mr. Propst is a granger and a lifelong member of the Christian Church. He is a charter member of the Harmony Grange. Only twice has Mr. Propst traveled outside of the state of Oregon since his arrival here in 1852. Once he visited his brother James in Washington Territory, and once he went to Chicago as a delegate to the National Grange.

Mr. Propst's health is very good considering his extreme age. He is able to walk with the aid of a cane, and he can read fine print. He still has his natural teeth. His memory is good in almost all essential dates, but his facilities are plainly slowing up concerning smaller details.

Mr. Propst has kept a daily diary for many years, recording principally the weather phases and the prices and yields of crops on his farm.

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.