The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-07-23


of one log cabin, the home of the late
J. c, Avery. Mrs Avery, willing OF
not, was forced to entertain the court
At 9 o'clock of the morning following
their arrival, the judge, who was small
of stature, but dignifed and at times
Slightly pompous, ordered the marsha
to call court. Joe Meek, more famous
as an Indian fighter than as student
of legal lore, stepped outside the door
and called out, ooh, yes; oh, yes so lus-
tily that it is claimed the echo rever-
berated far along the shadows of distant
Mary's peak. The fated ship was called
| up and sold to the highest bidder Men
time, the children continued their play
around the hearth, and Mrs. Avery
finished churning by the side of the
| fireplace. The first courthouse as well
as the old deserted capitol, when con.
pared with the SIS, 900 temple of justice
that is now in the center OF the city, tells
considerable OF the growth and progress
of Corvallis.
Benton county, which at the present
thine is bounded on the north by Polk
on the east by Linn. on the south bv
Lane. and on the west by Lincoln coun-
ty, was organized under the provisional
government in IS47, and Marysville was
Established the county seat in 1851. This
town was located on the Willamette
river at a point intersected by Mary's
river, crystal stream. rising in the
vicinity of Mary's peak, the loftiest
mountain in the Coast range. The city
lies about the center of the Willamette
valley on a north and south line: there
fore in those days when there were no
railroads in Oregon, and Marysville was
at the head of navigation on the Will
lamette. and the town was the shipping
center for vast portion of Oregon
and California, and pack trains, freight
teams, and travellers came from every
direction, some one who had more than
smattering of Latin and French said
"Marysville c'est occur vallais." Marys-
vile is the heart of the valley. The name
Corvallis seemed to be so natural that
it is probable that if Bobby" Burns
had been passing this way, he would
have exclaimed:
"Auld Corvallis,
The town wham name surpasses
For honest men and bonnie lasses."
Indeed, the word had already been
anglicised into Corvallis, the form
which we now use; and the people now
adays look upon the name Marysville
with about the same kind of respect
that they would regard the maiden
name of charming lady who had won
recognition, and then was welded into
circles of greater wealth, usefulness and
sociaf distincrion
The city grew steadily into popuia-
ton OF probably $500; and while rail
roads were crossing this state, the Ore
gon Pacific placed its principal offices at
Corvallis, while the Southern Pacific
West Side made Corvallis the te1npor-
ary terminus The only wagon and car
riage factory in the state is located at
Corvallis. The state agricultural college
is located in the edge of the city. This
institution of learning was founded in
1870, and grew steadily until last year,
when there were registered about 400
students. Many of the leading men OF
Oregon, Washington and California
were educated within its walls. The
school offers free tuition to all, and is
seeking to reach the greatest possible
number of worthy young men and wom-
en-.
Along the o. c. & E. railroad about
seven miles west of Corvallis is tine
beautiful little city Philomath, nestled
at the foot of the grand mountains that
lead up to the Coast range. "Ph1lo-
math," which is taken from two Greek
words, meaning "a lover of learning,
has proved to be no misnomer; tof
the town was founded as college town
by the United Brethren in Christ as
early probably as 1868. The town and
college enjoyed a steady growth Tor
many years; and as the church
which fostered the college grew,
it gradually broadened its opln-
ions, until, about eight years ago,
the leaders of that ecclesiastical body
ascertained that they had enough opin-
ions for two churches, which were
promptly organized, and the peculiar
situation called for two colleges, which
are known as Philomath College and
the College of Philomath. These, with
the excellent public school facilities that
are characteristic of Philomath as well