Document text
Accession no.
W9665
Date received
10/10/40
Consignment no.
1
Shipped from Place of origin__Par_iLand, ur.egan. Date.-31-27-/-aa
Wash. Office
Label I Project worker Willi= Ost Haigbt
Amount 12p, Project editor
(2 mce.)
forme Remarks
A —D)
CA4.41_4-t, V.4.4 WPA ---ipaAelti.;1,).0t.-4.1S
L. C. PROJEC ri tire UNIT
Form -3
Folklore
Collection (or Type)
Form A
Federal Writers' Project
Circumstances of Interview Works Progress Administration
OREGON FOLKLORE STUDIES
Name of worker Williap C. BilLbt
Address Washington Hotel, Portland, Oregon
Date March 27, 1939
Subject Smalltown Folklore. (Minutes of a Literary Society).
Name and address of informant Charles Brown, Canyon City. Or9zon.
Date and time of interview March 21, 22, 23, 1939, Three half days..
-Place of interview Brown's Service Station, Canyon City, Ornon.
Name and address of person, if any, who put you in touch with informant
Name and address of person, if any, accompanying you
Interviewer's former home town.
Description of room, house, surroundings, etc.
Average office of small town service station, cluttered with early
day relics. Mr. Brown has a notable collection of pioneer articles.
(Use as many additional sheets as necessary, each bearing the proper heading
and the number to which the material refers).
W9665
Form B
Personal History of Informant
OREGON FOLKLORE STUDIES
Name of worker William C. Haight
Address
Subject
Federal Writers' Project
Works Progress Administration
Washington Hotel, Portland. Oregon
Date March 27, 1939
Small Town Folklore. (Minutes of Literary Society).
Name and address of informant
Charles Brown, Canyon City, Oregon.
Information Gbtained should supply the
1. Ancestry 6.
2. Place and date of birth 7.
3. Pomily 8,
4. Places lived in, with dates 9,
5. Education, with dates 10.
followin?;
-",-"aJAs;
0-:cuda-;:u-ni; olld accomplishments with dates
Ccecir..1 si.iT.s irrLoreE-ts
ond relig;ous activities
Doi-vtiou of int'rnin.:13-±...
Other points gained in interview
1. Dutch.
2. Canyon City, Oregon. Refused date of birth but private informant gives his
age as 63.
3. One son, Harold; wife, Selma.
4. Canyon City, Oregon all his life.
5. None. "Oh, a little here and there, nothing formal."
6. Rancher, operated a store; present occupation of service station operator.
Dates are not remembered.
7. His interests lie in the collection of antiques. He has a large, valuable
collection of Grant County pioneering articles. I found particularly
interesting his saddle and gun collection. Annually at the"62 Celebration"
(celebration of the founding of the town) he manages the parade. The parade
matches in all ways with the famous Pendleton Round -up parade.
8. Mr. Brown's community interests are necessarily large. In a small town every-
one pitches in and helps at everything. Charley is always in the thick of
things. I don't believe he has any religious activities, other than that he
is noted for his kindliness, charity, and friendliness.
(Use as many additional sheets as necessary, each bearing the proper heading
and the number to which the material refers).
Charles Brown Form B 2.
9. Tall, well built man in his early sixties. Well preserved with a complexion
whipped by the wind. Clear blue eyes. His manner is that of a westerner
living in an isolated community. From the standpoint of a city dweller he
would be a rugged individualist, but to the people he lives with he is just
"Charley".
10. One of Mr. Brown's distinguishing acts is his annual Christmas party. He
rounds up all the children in the county, of underprivileged merit, and
gives them candy, clothes, toys all the things a child would want and
need. This is not done for show but because the man is naturally kind,
generous, and finds a pleasure in helping others.
Form C Federal Writers/ Project
Text of Interview (Unedited) Works Progress Administration
OREGON FOLKLORE STUDIES
Name of worker William C. Haight Date March 27, 1939
Address Washington Hotel, Portland, Oregon
Subject Small Town Folklore.
Name and address of informant Charles Brown, Canyon City, Oregon.
Text:
One of the most interesting stores told here about the more prominent
pioneers concerns an address given at a Fourth of July celebration.
The Fourth of July was the "big time" for everyone. The whole country-
side would meet in Canyon, on Whisky Flat and celebrate. Each year some prominent
man would give the oration suitable for the occasion and usually some one would
read the Declaration of Independence.
It was during the early 60's that John C. Luce arose to read the
Declaration. He read in a clear, firm voice nearly half of the Constitution
of the United States, before old H. W. Hill could pull the ends of his coat-
tail and help John find the right page. If you wanted to make old John mad all
you had to do was mention the Constitution. Yes sir, as far as John WAS con-
cerned, they were fighting words.
How was Rebel Hill named? Well, in early times, in fact when the town
WAS just starting there were two distinct parties of immigrants. One crowd was
known as the Whitney bunch, and I forget the other people. Anyway, part of the
group were Southerners and the other group were Northerners. On the Fourth of
July, 1862, the Southerners rung up the flag of the Confederacy on the hill.
(Use as many additional sheets as necessary, each bearing the heading given
above).
Charles Brawn
Form C 2.
The Northerners yanked her down in a hurry. Inasmuch as all the Southerners lived
on the hill it naturally became known as Rebel Hill. As far as I know there were
no casualties on the day the flag was rung up.
Form D
Extra Comment Works Progress Administration
Federal Writers' Project
OREGON FOLKLORE STUDIES
Name of worker William C. Haiat ,Date March 27. l9:19
Address Washington Hotel. Portland. Oren.
Subject
Small Town Folklore.
Name and address of informant Charles Brown, Canyon City, Oregon.
Comment:
The informant was unusually cooperative. His interest in the history
of Grant County naturally found him more accurate and willing to "give" than
the average informant, although this expressed itself chiefly in the privilege
to copy from his "papers".
Rather an interesting thing happed to hi. while I was in Canyon City.
A young slip of a girl, Mrs. Keith Province, had been talking to some friends
in her husband's store about early gold mining strikes in Canyon City. On the
way home from the store she glanced down and found a gold nugget. She excitedly
ran with her find back to the store and showed the nugget to her husband. Be
suggested she take it up to Charley Brawn's and have him weigh it on his gold
scales.
When she handed Charley the nugget he said, "Well, I'll be damned
that's the nugget I lost about eight years ago." The nugget he had found many,
many years ago, and had it made into a watch fob. While managing the annual '62
celebration the nugget had been torn from his watch chain as he jumped on his
horse.
The nugget showed where it had been soldered on to a fob or some other
arrangement.
(Use as many additional sheets as necessary, each bearing the heading given
above).
Charles Brawn Form D 2
The following items were copies from the papers in the possession of
the informant.
Minutes of Literary Society, Canyon City, Oregon, 1866.
Introduction: *Vanity has destroyed more than lead or steel." Joaquin Miller.
I think perhaps the best description of the writing in this journal would
be in the manner of the time, "gorgeous grandeur". Most interesting feature of
this Journal is the fact that Joaquin Miller, noted poet, was one of the active
members of the society. The following are excerpts from the minutes:
*At a meeting held on December, Monday Eve, December 1866 for the purpose
of organizing a Literary Association, Judge Miller (Joaquin) on motion was elected
temporary chairman. M. W. Fechheimer, temporary secreatry. On motion Miller,
F. F. C. Hyde, M. W. Fechheiner, were chosen a oommittee to draft constitution
and By laws for the government of the society."
Description of a debate held one evening, *continued discussion with
strength that gave credit," to its leaders.
"Thursday, January 17, 1867.
Resolved: That the Sentiment contained in the following thought is
correct: Of forms of government let fools contest. What's lest administered
is best.
Resolved: "The Discovery of Gold on the Pacific Coast has been beneficial
to mankind."
The debate about the discovery of Gold, was "prosecuted with strength
and interest, fraternal courtesy being a prominent characteristic."
Evidently the following was said during the debate, *conversation makes
a ready man, writing makes an exact one.*
"Resolved: That the mother exerts the greater influence on the character
of the offspring than the father.
Charles Brown Form D 3
In the discussion of this question I do not wish to detract from the
incomparable merits, those essential and touching characteristics those heaven
born qualities of mind, the mother possesses. For it is to her we owe the enormous
debt of gratitude for those high and holy principles of morality by which we are
enabled to draw the line of demarcation between moral right and moral wrong, with
facility and ease, as we meet the raging and fearful storms of life when our eyes
become familarized with the dark and damnable paths of sin and iniquity. What a
swift majestic movement we behold on the part of those pure and immaculet precepts
darting precioitatively into the vacillating mind to rescue the fallinr victim.
This is the potent influence exercised by the mother over the moral force'and
stamina of the youth.
But are women as a class calculated to weild the scepter of power, to
stand fearlessly at the helm on the trembling ship of state amid the danger and
confusion when the contending waves of faction war and bloodshed with the same
composure and firmness that those of the opposite sex would No, their natures are too weak too fragile, 'tis not their province as
prescribed them by an omniscient and overruling Providence to assume the high
responsibility of engineering affairs of state.
The father therefore, gives direction to the course but the mother makes
it effective."
"Good Advice: Stop grumbling, get up two hours earlier in the morning,
and begin to do something out of your regular profession. Mind your own business,
and with all your might let other peoples' business alone. Live within your
Charles Brown Form D 4
means, sell your horses, give away or sell your dog, smoke your cigar through
an air stove. Eat with moderation and go to bed early. Talk less of your own
peculiar gifts and vanities and more of those of your friends and neighbors. Be
cheerful and fulfill your promises, pay your debts. Be yourself, all you would
see in others. Be a good man and stop grumbling."
RECIPES.
(These recipes were taken from an ordinary note book, handwritten. It
VW passed around among the early settlers for their use. Many of the recipes.
were for horses, these I did not copy but they may be obtained.)
February 12, 1863.
For weak eyes.
Linseed oil
Gum camphor
1/2 pint
Let this stand for 24 hours then fit for use. Apply with feather over
eyes.
SOAP recipe for 8 gallon.
Take 2 lbs. casteel soap cut fine, put in le gallons of hot water untill
(correct) dissolved then add 3 lbs. sal -soda and --14- lb starch. Dissolve the starch
in cold water. Boil all together five minutes, stir well then add 61 gallons cold
water. When cool it is fit for use..
Charle s Bromn Form D 5
How to make oil soap.
Take Beaf yalls one talbe spoonful Rum.
A pint of Spirits of Ammonia
2 ounces of spirit of turpentine
2 ounces, shake it well and it befor use.
(The following items were taken from a rare copy of the Grant County
Express, Canyon City, Oregon, Saturday, March 18, 1876, Vol. 1. No. 2. Published
every Saturday, this was once the largest paper published in Grant County, a
newsy, racy, live, progressive, and aggressive journal).
Castor Oil is a bully thing to mollify leather but as a beverage its
a failure.
Young man quaff not the ruby rum,
Or you'll make the festive jim-jams come.
We can't say whether the young folks of Canyon ar practicing the latest
novelty ---the Centennial kiss, a hundred without stopping, or not, if not, why
not.
Notwithstanding the hard times, the wages of sin are reduced.
Dr. Schenck's Pulmonic Syrup a cure for consumption.
The Spirit of '76r ---Crooked Whiskey.
Carvers of their own fortunes ---Crooked Whiskey.
Charles Brown
Form D 6
Phe
recording of
particularly
1.
there on.
following is copied from a journal owned by Mr. Brawn. The
this court procedure INAS done in long hand. Fancy writing was
noted).
For South Fork Precinct Grant County State of Oregon
The State of Oregon Plff.
vs.
SS
2. Two Indians Names unknown Defdts.
3. May 9, 1885. Information laid before me.
4. Informant examined under oath and his statement reduced to writing.
5. Tnformation filed and the name of the private prosecutor endorsed
6. Henry Blackwell Was by me appointed a special constable of South
Fork Precinct to execute the warrant of arrest.
7. Warrant of arrest issued and placed the hands of Henry Blackwell
special constable for service.
8. May 23, Warrant of Arrest returned and filed.
It appearing from the return on
special constable that the defendants in
there case therefore removed to a higher
can be handled in this court the case is
the warrant of arrest by Henry Blackwell
the above action has been killed and
(or lower?) court no further proceedings
therefore dismissed with the hope. that the
Hon. County Court will promptly reimburse the special constable and his assist-
ants in the case. John W. Lewis, Justice of the Peace.
Officers:
J. W. Lewis Justice Fees 4 9.45
Henry Blackwell, Constable Fees 64.75
Henry Blackwell, Burial Expenses of Defts.- 7.00
Charles Jaegar---200 miles travel 20.00
Charle s Bromn Form D 7
Johns Roberts ----250 miles travel
J. C. Neal 250 miles travel
Sam Overlander 250 miles travel
George Miller 150 miles travel
Lyman Smick 640 miles travel
25.00
25.00
25.00
15.00
64.00
$255.20
May 25, 1855, cort (court) bill made and filed with H. C. Jarrel clerk of Grant
County, Oregon.
Transcript of the case made with the original paper filed with H. C. Jarrel,
Clerk.
Given under my hand this 25th day of May 1885.