The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1883-04-14

distance of lJ0 miles. The Umpqua
river rises In the Cascade mountains
east OF the line; while the south Ump-.
qua rises in the county and empties
into the main Umpqua six miles north
west of Roseburg. The first white
men who located in this section were
attaches of The Hudson BAY company.
Nearly sixty years ago they built fort
and trad'ng-post nearly opposite the
mouth of Elk creek, on the Umpqua
river. These traders extended their
traffic with the Indians down the river
to the coast; thence TO the mouth of
Rogue river, where they procured the
valuable skins Of tbs sea-otter. This
post has been extinct for thirty years.
The trail thatItlleae men used in going
to California ran from. the Dalles, east
of the Cascade mountains, touching
point now known as Yreka. So that
little wasthen known OF Western Or
eson. This county was organized in
1851. The first election was held
June 6, 1851. The first settlers were
the SCOTS and Asplegates. Tue Scots
settled at the foot of the mountains,
near where the trail came down tie
mountains dividing what is since called
Scott's- valley from the Willamette.
The Arplegates settled more to the
west, at a point known as Yoncalla,
the lame of the mountain on the west,
but all of them resided in the northern
part OF the Umpqua yaiiey. Aiken
and smi h followed, and "a " n
1850 pat a ferry on the Umpqua
river, nearly thirty miles south Of
SCOTS valley, at "a point .atterwArd
called Winchester. This name was
given to this point out of respect to
Winchester, OF Winchester, Payne i
Co., Callfornia spectators and repre-
sentative of land company, who
bought the ferry of Aikea and Snit h
IN 1890, but VINO lefs the country with
out paying for it. It fell into the
hands OF the original propristors in
1858, after spirited lawsuit. This
was the first important lawsuit tried
II. Douglas county. Tue explorers,
Winchester, Payne IL Co, discovered
and entered the Umpqua river III 1850
in the schooner Samuel Roberts, !"
waich they fitted out in San Francisco
to ceast along the shores of California
and Oregon III seasIt Of gold. At this
time the Indians were not reliably
friendly, as after-scenes of Indian
| murders proved. Deer creek-tive
| miles south OF Wiachester-Uas 10
Gated by a cattle trader, Louis Ramev
Winchester becaale q trading post,
and the county seat. III 1854-55 Dir.
Aaron Rose, who purchased the Deer
creek locality in 1851, now be gan to
| bnild town upon it and named it
Ressburg. BY untiriag energy he
procured the county seat, which was
located at Roseburg in about 1855
where it still remains Tie fall Of
1851 Douglas county witnessed the
first immigration of any considerah lie
number. This was followed until the
county was sparsely settled, for new
country, as nothing bat farming and
stock-raising attracted the settlers at
that time. Schools were organized and
churches were built. Trade with
Scottsbnrg became important. This
point lies at tho head of m vigation for
vessels on the Umpqua, and was
owned by Capt. Levi Scott, who had,
with his sons, settled in 80 or so in
SCOTS valley. Scottsburg was located
In 1850 The samuel Roberts" re-
turned to San Francisco With tile news
of the discovery Of the Umpqua river.
She was fs flowed to the Umpqua BY
the briggs "Caleb Curtis" and ''Bcsto.
man." both of which were lest at the
entrance Of the river, after they had
crossed the bar. the Caleb Curtis"
was dow n-east briganti tine, made upon
honor, and "eut Off from a hull" as
old salts would say, long enough FOR !,
dozen vessels. She was blunt almost
at beth ends. Flor hull was to be seen
but few years since and no doubt at
shifting tides in winter it may be seen
now, as solid as when she went ashore
in 1859. Soon tralo opened with San
Francisco with spiles and square tim
Der for ex ports, and merchandise for
Imports.
Douglas county has 1850 square
miles, and is larger than several indi-
vidual States OF our Union; even
larger than Connecticut. 1t has pop.
ulation of about 10000; al area OF
3,71o,ooo acres, only one-balf of which
has been surveyed, and only 69aC00
are occuniel. The valleys of the Tnn