Josephine County snippets from The Morning Oregonian in Portland
March 30, 1867
From Dr. Osborn of Kirbyville Josephine county the Sentinel learns the following strange facts Mrs. Miller, of Browntown, Josephine County had been complaining for sixteen years of a burning sensation and at times, an almost unbearable distress in the stomach. After a thorough diagnosis Dr. Osborn decided that there was a living animal in the stomach. The patient was treated for eight days on a diet of salt. An emetic was then administered and repeated at short intervals for three quarters of an hour, when a lizard and a worm were evacuated from the stomach. The lizzard was of the red species, 2 1/4 inches long nearly white partaking of the mucous of the stomach. The same correspondent writes that the worm is of a species with which he is not acquainted, never having seen anything of the kind before. It is three inches long flat, about three lines (three-twelfths of an inch) in width, and one-eighth of an inch in thickness, jointed and resembles the tape worm. Mrs. Miller is now relieved from the burnings and all other distress of the stomach and fast recovering-has a clear complexion and is cheerful. Mr. H. Miller, (the ladys husband) Mr. Thomas Carr and lady and Mr. M. Chitwood were present at the time the reptiles were vomited up.
September 3, 1868
The Sentinel says that Hon. Isaac, of Josephine county, was detained on the 21st by a legal officer of that county. He and his horse and buggy were attached for a debt of twenty dollars but the honorable gentleman slipped out of the dilemma by pleading that members of the Legislature are not subject to arrest on civil process for fifteen days prior to the commencement, or fifteen days after, nor during the session. The arrest was made more than fifteen days prior to the meeting of the Legislature, but he claimed that he was on his way there, and the Justice let him go on his way rejoicing. Ain't it funny to see an eminent Democrat, who has written a big book on the Constitution, plead the baby act for twenty dollars.
June 1, 1871
Insane Patient-Sheriff Green, of Josephine county, arrived yesterday with an insane woman named Mrs. Bain whom he placed in the Asylum at East Portland. We understand that the woman became insane through religious excitement.
November 1, 1871
Josephine county has no lawyer and but one doctor in it. The Hon. Isaac Cox, the statesman, farmer and pedagogue, has the left the county, and, now it has no leader.
September 21, 1874
Messrs. Munsley & Mann returned from the Red Dog Diggings, in Josephine county, and report good prospects and plenty of ground. One piece of gold, weighing $95, has been found, and also various smaller pieces. Comparatively few claims have as yet been taken up.
April 1, 1875
Rev. Mr. Haines M.E. Church South recently arrived in Josephine county from Tennessee having been transferred to this State as his future field of labor.
April 12, 1875
Mr. J.J. Moore, of Applegate creek, Josephine county, states that there are now sufficient mill facilities in Josephine county to give the different Galice creek quartz ledges a fair test, and a mill might be put up at the ledge for about five or six hundred dollars. Capt. A.W. Pressley is boating supplies down Rogue river. He takes from four to five tons at a load.
May 26, 1875
Mr. James G. Kelly the mining expert, arrived at Jacksonville last week. We understand that he has on the way, and will erect a quartz mill over on Althouse creek, Josephine county on some claims recently located by him.
September 20, 1875
The residence of Mr. George Simmons, of Waldo, Josephine county, was destroyed by fire on Thursday, Sept. 9t. The fire was discovered between the ceiling and roof, about twenty feet from the stove-pipe, while the family were at dinner. It burned so rapidly that little or nothing was saved, although Mr. Simmons was badly burned about the head in his endeavors to extinguish the fire, or save some of his household effects.
June 14, 1876
A most villainous rumor comes to us from Josephine county, to the effect
that a bargain was struck some time ago between parties capable of performing
their respective parts, by the terms of which it was stipulated that the
Governor should pardon the Briggs, convicted of manslaughter in Josephine
county, and the State Senator elect from that county should in turn vote for the
Governor for U.S. Senator. The State Senator will, in all probability prove the
untruthfulness of the report, by refusing to perform the part assigned to him in
the programme. At any rate, time will tell.
July 30, 1878
On 23d July the dwelling of Messrs. Beach & Platter, on Althouse, Josephine
county, was burned. Loss, $3,000.
October 19, 1878
One James Clark, of Josephine county, claims to have eaten nothing for seven days while lost in the mountains recently. Better knock a few days from that statement, James.
October 22, 1878
M. Barnette, for many years a resident of Josephine county, has been committed to the insane asylum.
November 26, 1879
A barn in Oakland, Josephine county, was recently burned by the spontaneous combustion of clover put in the barn in an uncured condition and covered over with marsh hay. The explosion of the "combustication" was heard a mile and a quarter away.
May 25, 1885
Grant's pass is anxious to be the county seat of Josephine county, and the citizens of that place have subscribed $2000 to build a court house, provided they obtain the coveted distinction.
December 14, 1886
JOSEPHINE COUNTY
Bruce Kitterman of Sucker creek, who has been dangerously ill, is recovering.
It is proposed to have Grant's Pass incorporated by the next legislature and the name changed also.
Senator Miller's family will remain at Portland during the winter, but Mr. Miller returned to Grant's pass last week.
Revs. Sterns and Black, Baptist ministers, will commence a protracted meeting at the M.E. church in Grant's Pass.
The Methodists contemplate building a church in Sucker creek valley, and Dr. Spence has offered to donate an acre of ground for that purpose.
Dr. Spencer, of Sucker creek valley, last season raised 20,000 pounds of potatoes on an acre of ground, and has already sold nearly 50,000 pounds of tubers.
Joseph Moss, engineer of the S.P.D. & L. Co., who had an arm and jaw broken by the unaccountable breaking of some machinery in the basement of the factory last week, is improving. His recovering will necessarily be slow, however.
July 10, 1888
McAllister Josephine county is building a new schoolhouse to cost $600.
September 14, 1888
Mrs. E.-. Davidson, one of the pioneer women of this county in 1851, who has been visiting her son since June last, returned to her home in Josephine county on the through train yesterday.
March 11, 1890
Salem, March 10-J.C. Moss sheriff of Josephine county today brought to the asylum C.H. Williams an insane patient. He is a farmer aged 40 years and is violent imagining himself to be king of the combined nations of the earth.
©Shauna Williams