WPA Interviews

Lines, Fred. E.

INTERVIEW, August 14, 1940

Interview with Mr. Fred Lines, Albany, Oregon

My name is Fred. E. Lines. My address is 413 Washington Street, Albany, Oregon. I was born close to what is now known as Fry Station, a few miles east of Albany, in 1862.

My father was John H. Lines. He was born in South Carolina, April 21, 1803. I do not know the name of the town but it was quite close to the Virginia line.

My mother was Martha M. (Sample) Lines. She was born in Huntington County, Pennsylvania on February 11, 1824. She died in September, 1902. My father died on October 21, 1868.

Father and mother came to Oregon in 1853. At that time they had been married about ten years and had a family of four children. They came by the way of the Isthmus of Panama, landing first at San Francisco and then coming on to Oregon. They first settled about three miles southeast of Albany where father took up a Donation Claim. He lived on this place for a few years and then sold it, buying a larger farm from members of the Earl family, situated on the extreme east point of Knox Butte. On that place I was raised and there my father died.

I should say that before coming to Oregon my father had lived for a time at, or near, Louisville, Kentucky and at that place he had also engaged in the drug business. He was also elected as County Clerk of Lee County and served in that capacity for about seven years. After coming to Linn County he was again elected as County Clerk here and served for seven and one half years. To my father and mother were born eight children, four in the East and four in Oregon. Their names are-

• Margaret Lines. Died young.
• Mont D. Lines. Was a farmer in Eastern Oregon. Now dead.
• Perry C. Lines. Died Sept. 2, 1887.
• Virginia Lines. She married L. C. Marshall of this city.
• Lillie Lines. Married Dr. L. Foley who practiced at Lebanon.
• Frank Lines. A farmer on the old home place where his widow still lives.
• She was a daughter of John Geisendorfer a pioneer of 1851.
• Cyrus Lines. Died in infancy.
• Fred E. Lines. (The informant) Now residing in Albany.

I am the only member of my family now living.

Father and mother were married on November 17, 1842. Father died on October 21, 1868. He was first seriously hurt in an accident with a team and became badly crippled. He did not long survive that injury.

While my people were living in Albany they resided in the old octagon house which used to stand a few blocks south and east of the business section. That house was built by Dr. J. Linsey Hill, one of Albany's first preachers and physicians. Dr. Hill was a Baptist Preacher and one of the founders of the present Albany Baptist Church. The old octagon house was a landmark here for many years.

The farm which my father purchased on the east point of Knox Butte was the original claim of John Earl. There are a few graves on that farm of very early date of which few people know and they are of pioneer interest. They are members of the Earl family, the grandparents of Mr. Charles Earl who resides here in Albany. He can tell you of their exact names and history.

The place where the graves lie are in Section 36, Township 10 S. Range 3 West. Timber has grown up over the graves so that it is difficult to find them but they should be marked since they are those of real pioneers.

There were many small manufactories in the country at an early date that are now entirely forgotten. There was a pottery on the Alfred Powell claim, or thereabouts, in the 1860's. It was run by a man named Ramsay. At a later date, in the late 1880's or early 1890's there was quite a large tile factory on the Reuben Streitoff claim. That was run by Franklin Proopst.

There are great pits where the clay was removed there. They lie just adjoining the Central Christian Church Cemetery. A large share of the earlier industries were carried on in the country rather than in the towns.

Even many of the early doctors lived on claims in the country. George Crawford, a dentist, and Dr. Alexander, a physician, lived far out from any town.

I first went to school in what is known as the East Knox Butte district.

Two Propst boys started to school at the same time that I did, sons of John Propst. Their uncle was the teacher. Another of my teachers was W. M. Cole and a third, at the Knox Butte school, was George Burkhart.

I spoke of early doctors living in the country. I forgot to mention Dr. Hesbon Parrish who was such a one. His home was situated a few miles south of the Butte. Another item which I forgot to mention was that the Hackleman family who settled first in East Albany was a family relative. It was the Hackleman family here which was the inducement for my own father coming.

They settled here in 1845-1847, the father coming first, going back for his family and dying in the East, and the son coming at the later date. Abe Hackleman's mother was my father's sister.

When my father and mother were coming to Oregon they had the misfortune to suffer a shipwreck. It took place on what was known as "Tennessee Beach", just outside the entrance to the Golden Gate. From there they were forced to continue on another boat.

My father belonged to the Christian Church. My mother was an old time Presbyterian. A real old-school disciple.

This has been rather a disjointed interview but there are just a few more disconnected items which I wish to record. Another teacher which I had forgotten was Hugh Gourley. He came to Oregon immediately after the Chicago fire, being one of the unfortunates who were assisted to come to Oregon. He was a good teacher and was also a preacher. Another teacher was John Lousen, he was a cracker-jack and certainly made the scholars dance.

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.