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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Yoga comes to Bellview ... Wet storm will bring mountain snow, valley rain ... FERC rejects Jordan Cove LNG project ... Yoga comes to Bellview ... Wet storm will bring mountain snow, valley rain ... FERC rejects Jordan Cove LNG project ... AS IT WAS The kindness of Isaac Constance Comment By Marjorie O'Harra Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Marjorie O'Harra Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Mar. 10, 2016 at 10:48 AM Updated Mar 10, 2016 at 10:49 AM By Marjorie O'Harra Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Mar. 10, 2016 at 10:48 AM Updated Mar 10, 2016 at 10:49 AM » Social News Heavy snow fell on Southern Oregon during the winter of 1854. Many Rogue River Indian families faced starvation. Isaac Constance, whose farm stood on land Central Point covers today, looked out over his garden. Potatoes had been packed south from Oregon City the year before and Constance had saved and planted the peelings. He had a bountiful crop — much more than his family needed. Recognizing the plight of the Indians, Isaac Constance gave them potatoes from his garden. During the bloody Rogue River Indian War that erupted the following year, Chief Sam remembered that kindness. He told his warriors that Constance, his family, his neighbors and their farms should not be harmed. Violence flared in September 1855. Two teamsters crossing the Siskiyous were killed by Indians. Volunteer militia rode out of Jacksonville and swept through an Indian village on Little Butte Creek. The Indians retaliated. Fighting continued until the spring of 1856 when the Indians were subdued, broken, and marched from Table Rock to reservations in the north. The story of Isaac Constance and the potatoes became a family legend, often told by his grandson, William Constant Leever, who served as mayor of Central Point in the early 1900s. A single act of kindness indeed went a long way. Source: "Good Crop of Spuds Were Grown from Parings" Medford Mail Tribune, Feb. 22, 1912, p. 6; Atwood, Kay, "Claiming the Land.” In: Land In Common, Southern Oregon Historical Society, p. 31. As It Was is a co-production of Jefferson Public Radio and the Southern Oregon Historical Society. As It Was stories are broadcast weekdays on Jefferson Public Radio and are available online at asitwas.org . By Marjorie O'Harra Southern Oregon Historical Society DailyTidings.com By Marjorie O'Harra Southern Oregon Historical Society Posted Mar. 10, 2016 at 10:48 AM Updated Mar 10, 2016 at 10:49 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501