southtillamookcounty.com
History
"Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers" written about South Tillamook County, Oregon
The page below was written by Mrs. Hardy Rock (Alexandria LEY Rock) and published in 1949. NVMS students have retyped her history so that many may read it. Although some punctuation errors have been corrected the text remains as written by Mrs. Rock.
Note that Alexandria LEY Rock's "Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers" has been republished in book form as of January 2007 and is now being offered for sale by the Tillamook County Historical Society!
p. 40 Religious Services
(This page was typed by Dean Bones.)
Jerome B. Franklin, an ordained Camelite preacher from Missouri, was the first one to preach in the old Oretown Schoolhouse situated close to the site of the present cheese factory. He homesteaded his farm on Oretown Heights above the original site of the J. B. Upton house and moved there September, 1882. He preached from his Bible, without notes, and his song book was printed in the old style using dots, dashes, commas and numbers. His daughter, Mrs. Lavina Franklin McGraw, has his Bible and song book in her home in Portland.
Vincent Turnide was an early preacher in the old schoolhouse at Meda, and John Craven , father of Lyle Craven and Molly Craven Fox, also held services there at intervals. He was of the Baptist faith.
Willis Keathley Bailes moved to Oretown in 1898 and began services in the Oretown Schoolhouse in 1899. He had been a Circuit Rider in Oregon, a minister in Cowlitz County, Washington, and a member of the Church of Christ. He held services regularly in the school house (which was located west of the barn belonging to W.D. Rock), until he moved away.
Charles Roosa, who lived in a tent-house on the Bay, north of the Christensen house, held services for awhile in this same school house.
In 1891 and 1894, Brother Jones, an Episcopalian minister, from a southern State, held services regularly until he moved his large family away on the steamer "Harrison".
At Neskowin, church services and Sunday School had been held at intervals until Reverend Adolph Gahl and his wife, Ida, held regular services in the school house until his death. His home was at Neskowin Resort. Sunday School is now held there intermittently.
During the First World War on January 8, 1918, a Red Cross was organized in Oretown Church with Mrs. Hardy Rock, President. Future meetings were held in the grange Hall. All ladies in Little Nestucca section joined in making clothes, knitting socks and sweaters for the soldier boys. Lunches were brought so most of the day could be utilized. Men folks assisted with fuel and other necessary work and in arranging Socials to raise funds.
A Box Social, January 23, netted $234.00; another Box Social May 9, 1919, netted $225.50.
Meetings were held once a week and became a social center for the duration.
The first Sunday School was started by James B. Upton and his wife, Amanda Shaw Upton, in their home on the homestead. This was previous to 1887, and was of short duration.
In 1888, Mrs. Esther Crawford Shaw (wife of Jeff Shaw), Episcopalian, and Mrs. Hardy Rock, Methodist, organized a Sunday School in the School House which stood west of the present highway and west of the barn belonging to WD Rock and close to the creek. This was a large and interesting Sunday School for a long number of years.
The first superintendent was Mrs. Hardy Rock.
Continue to page 41 of "Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers!"