Stevens, William M.
From Lane Co Oregon
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According to donation land claim records, the first settler to stake a claim in the | According to donation land claim records, the first settler to stake a claim in the | ||
[[Springfield]] locale was [[Stevens, William M.|William M. Stevens]], who filed on a 640-acre tract in [[1848]] (Genealogical Forum of Portland 1962). | [[Springfield]] locale was [[Stevens, William M.|William M. Stevens]], who filed on a 640-acre tract in [[1848]] (Genealogical Forum of Portland 1962). | ||
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| + | In [[1847]], he journeyed over the [[Oregon Trail]] and the [[Barlow Road]], arriving in December of that year. Together with his three eldest sons, Stevens commenced the erection of a dwelling. The felling of the trees and sawing of lumber was entirely done by these four pioneers, and by Christmas day, 1847, they had a roof to shelter the rest of the family; the house was built of logs, sixteen by eighteen feet in dimensions, its bed being what is known as a puncheon floor. On that auspicious anniversary they entered into full possession, and, humble though the home, it bade definance to the winter winds and rains, and lent a cheering impress to the solitary wilds around. Mr. Stevens and his family, however, did not permit time to hang heavily upon their hands; indeed there was plenty of work for them in occupations peculiar to the life of a frontiersman. In the fall of 1848 they broke forty acres of ground directly to the back of the homestead, using wooden plow with an iron share and six yoke of oxen attached thereto, which was sowed with wheat; in the spring of [[1849]] they planted corn and vegetables to fifteen acres, where they raised turnips that year…(Walling 1884:451). | ||
[[Category:Springfield residents]] | [[Category:Springfield residents]] | ||
Revision as of 23:25, 10 August 2007
According to donation land claim records, the first settler to stake a claim in the Springfield locale was William M. Stevens, who filed on a 640-acre tract in 1848 (Genealogical Forum of Portland 1962).
In 1847, he journeyed over the Oregon Trail and the Barlow Road, arriving in December of that year. Together with his three eldest sons, Stevens commenced the erection of a dwelling. The felling of the trees and sawing of lumber was entirely done by these four pioneers, and by Christmas day, 1847, they had a roof to shelter the rest of the family; the house was built of logs, sixteen by eighteen feet in dimensions, its bed being what is known as a puncheon floor. On that auspicious anniversary they entered into full possession, and, humble though the home, it bade definance to the winter winds and rains, and lent a cheering impress to the solitary wilds around. Mr. Stevens and his family, however, did not permit time to hang heavily upon their hands; indeed there was plenty of work for them in occupations peculiar to the life of a frontiersman. In the fall of 1848 they broke forty acres of ground directly to the back of the homestead, using wooden plow with an iron share and six yoke of oxen attached thereto, which was sowed with wheat; in the spring of 1849 they planted corn and vegetables to fifteen acres, where they raised turnips that year…(Walling 1884:451).
