The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1891-03-20
A fsEaiSIscESeE.
Edifoys Democrat.

A "Reminiscences Of the SaniIam district,
OF "fhe Forks" Of "Canada," recalls old
Johnny crabtrec, Peter Diiycu and others.
But Uncle Johnny crabtree," as he was
aaestionafeIy and faniiary calied,is force
most 10 order met hin first 10 1864, on
q Saturday, when there was n democratic
meeting IN Scio, At which Judge Powell Of
Albany and James O'Mcara Of Eagene
City discussed the excited political situa-
tIon, before large asselnblage. Ureie
Johnny crabtrce was an enthusiastic dem.
oerat OF the slfictesi sect. aii ardent adyo !.
cate Of state dghls, yotary of Jefferson,
he was native of Virginia, and had emf
grated 10 Oregon In the early period. After
the meeting was over he invited me to
ride with him 20 Ills home, half dozen
miles away, and there was that tothe man
that caused nc 70 accept the cordial iavi-
tatioB. noticed that be had a hGe rIdin.
horse; II evidenced bis liking for good
stock. On The way .he communicated 10
me the treat III store when We should reath
his home and | could see bis aniec little
bunch Of woman" who was bis wife.
They married IN "Ole ylrginny," he q
wldower. the father Of ninc children, she
a wi Iow,ths mother Of nine children. They
hitci.ed mairimonIaliy, and not long afler-
wards started overland 10 Oregon. Their
union was blcssed In time with two ehil-I
dren Of their own. lie was Of low staiur c.
toneh FIBRE and wiry frame, no superfuous
flesh. strong bone aud sinewy conformation
and his spirit was alert aud bis resolution
nasterful. a stronger power physically
might master iin but all the powers Of
all the po,encIes could never bend that de-
termination OF bis. lis body was not
yielding; his nerve and pluck were as steel
and adamant. Dynamite could blow him
into atoms, but no power Of earth could
bring or force Uncle Johnny crabtree to
TO which he refused 10 assent.
lie weighed lees than one hundred pounds,
but every pound was just where Il did the
most good AZ he told me of his anice
little bunch IL woman | surmised the |
mother OF twenty children was eontem-
piation which lnyolyed allowance for ap-
pesranee. We rode and ! awaited. We
had left scio little before sundnwn. Il |
was early In spring. We reached the !,
crabiree farmhouse IN the late twilight. Il |
was eapaeious and comfortable home |
not of fancy architecture or gingerbread |
sdornment; but Il was all there and every
hing cosy and sunny. lie soon made ms
acquainted with his ''aiee lite bunch Of
woman" Lord bless me, the lady = whom
! was Introduced a. Mrs crablree, was
.aller than he o. !, and very stout. Uncle
Johnny conhded the important secret 10
me that night that the Last time they were
n Albany down al crawiord'a mill, she |
weighed two hundred aad forsy-,hrrc
poundsl A nice bunch Of a woman, truly. |
Of the strain aGather them Ia, gather them |
H." how difficult the task for the ordinary |
sxhorser or preacher. Old Joab Powell |
would have been hustled 10 his hair line vf
brow In the Impossible eudeayor. But
that ..nlce little bunch Of 4 woman was a
iewel of her sex. household treasure and
joy for all Of lifetime.
She spun. she weaved. she knitted all
The socks, wose all the woolens. and made
the garments for all the family. She was
boss and servant, all In one. Of the kitchen
II there was anything in the internal econ
omy ard care Of that sunny home OF the
Crabtrees to which she did not personally
attend, didn't see Il. She was not ubiq-
uitous, but she was there every time, At
the moment somebody MAS wanted. she
was "nice little lunch Of woman," but
Il sejoiced me that "uncle johnny" so
called her and left no, the description 10
me. More hospitabie keeping has not
been my lot. A supper OF gratifying
quality and quantity, a night Of comfor,-
Ing res,,a breakfast TO be remembered, and
the hearty expressions of "Uncie johnny"
his "nice little bunch Of woman" and Of
.the boys" as departed Ia the morning,
are pleasant recollections of my visit 10
"The Forks" IN Canada, and to the Crab
tree home.
Lone AGO.