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!
(This page was typed by NVMS 7th grader, Amanda, during the spring of 2002 and edited by Dean Bones.)
To reach the Little Nestucca Country from the Willamette Valley and Sheridan, the wagon road left the present highway east of what is now Valley Junction, turned to the right and ascended a rough corduroy road up a very steep hill to the residence of General Phil Sheridan. Descending to the lower level, the road from there to the Agency was often belly deep mud for the horses. Often settlers had to throw down the rail fences to travel across the fields. This condition continued until 1900.
About 1888, the former residence of General Sheridan was occupied by Cass Sargent and family who catered to the traveling public. When the house (none too large) was filled, others slept in the hay in the barn across the road from the house and had meals in the house.
The first Homesteaders experienced many hardships reaching their claims. At the Agency, they were often delayed for days--the guests of Pat Sinnett (Indian Agent) until the swollen waters of the Yamhill River subsided.
Proceeding as far as Dave Leno's place (2 1/2 miles) through deep mud in winter, they left the wagons and teams, secured cayuses from the Indians to ride over the old original Indian trail and on the Old Baldy Trail over the high points of the Coast Range emerging east or southeast of what is now Meda.
The name of this Indian Trail is in dispute. Some claim it was Baldy, others claim Galdy--Hardy Rock, one of the earliest of the homesteaders called it Galdy.
Dave Leno's house was a half way stopping place. He was a hospitable host supplying beds and eats for all travelers.
In route, the settlers encountered fallen logs or other obstructions, camping nights beside a big log, gathering long strips of bark fallen from high firs to build a shelter large enough to crawl under out of the rain. Later on they traveled the same route to the general merchandise store of Gilbert Litchfield, (located close to the Phil Sheridan house) and packed supplies on pack saddles to their homes. Steep hills, swift and dangerous fords, and swamps of mud were all overcome by the sturdy pioneers.
Over this route, James B. Upton moved his family to his homestead. He also moved over the same Trail, a Melodian strapped to the backs of two oxen. It was the first musical instrument in this country except a few fiddles. Later when the family moved to Portland, the Melodian was burned in a fire which consumed their house and all its contents.
Maud, the three year old daughter of the Upton family was carried over the Galdy to their new home by Hardy Rock in front of him on the saddle and at times asleep on his arm. The Upton Homestead was purchased by Wm. Redberg who moved to it from Oregon City in 1894, and who became Postmaster of Oretown. His son, Ole, and his grandson, Roy, now own the Upton farm.
Continue to page 6 of "Short History of the Little Nestucca River Valley and Its Early Pioneers!"