The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-09-19
B. ]. PENGRA
CROSSES
THE RIVER
Died at COburg Early
Friday Morning,
Aged 80
Was an ElectOr for Lincoln
and HamIln. and For Years
Leader in Poll
tics

B. ]. Pengra, well-known through
out Oregon as a politician Of the ear
ly days. railroad promoter and bust
ness man, died near Coburg this morn
ing.
He passed away this morning al
~: 30 O'Clock at the home OF his son
who resides near Coburg He was 50
years, months and 3 days old.
The funeral will be held tomorrow
morning at 10 o'clock from the resi-.
dence OF his son. Brief ceremonies
by Rev. J. c. Richardson win be con.
Quoted. Interment will be made in
Laurel Hill cemetery, near Spring
held
b ]. Pengra came West to Oregon
with the 1853 arrival OF immigrants.
He became prominent in politics in
the late SOS and is famous as the
first Republican OF the state. County
Judge II. r. Kincaid, ex-secretary Of
state. was associated with Mr.. Pengra
in politics, and to a Guard reporter
this morning he outlined the ambi
tions and achievements OF the old
pioneer.
"pengra drew attention when. in
1860. he was an elector for Lincoln
and Hamlin, the Republican nominees
for president and vice.president. He
was a thorough Lincoln Republican,
and was the first speaker 10 canvass
the state for the Republican ticket. He
was successful In his work, and
was elected elector, and carried the
vote OF Oregon to Washington, and
helped elect Lincoln. He then re
turned 70 Oregon and engaged In the
political senatorial fght, when Col.
Baker. OF California, was a candidate
from Oregon. He was practically boss
OF the state politics. and II was his In.
huence which elected Baker. As the
reward Baker gave him the Office OF
surveyorgeneral. Joel Ware was one
OF the clerks at the time. This office
he held for term, and then went TO
the legislature.
In Salem Pengra was the moving
spirit OF the movement TO unite the
Douglas Democrats and the Republi.
cans. II was a fine bit OF work. and
kept him in the lead. In the leglsla
ture he was dominant spirit. stub.
born and immobile. ready TO fight any
and all kinds OF opposition. and gen.
orally triumphed, as long as he kept
his endeavors confined to Oregon.
But Pengra wanted greater things.
In 1870, when the tanscontlnentaI
railway had been finished, he saw
that the state of Oregon was soon to
have a railway extending from San
Francisco TO Portland. Il was already
built as far as Salem. Pengra secured
the military read grant from Eugene
south through southeastern Oregon,
and II was his ambition 10 direct the
railway over his route. hut the Ore
gon a California company had their
own route, and fought Pengra to the
bitter end. and finally securing the
vote Of congress 10 establish the route
as II stands at present,
The news almost made Pengra
crazy, and he wrote terrible letter
for publication, challenging Senator
Williams to a duel, and making all
kinds OF threats Sgains, his opponents.
He brought Il to the Oregon State
Journal for me TO print, but refused.
He would not speak to me for seven
years.
Later on Coils Huntington had
quarrel with the o. a O., and was ON
the point Of aiding Pengra with a com
petitive road, and even went so far as
10 build road from woodburn 10 Ma
tron. He then sold out for million
and a half and Quit. The blow upset
Pengra, and he was committed TO
the asylum for year
"Pengra was forecnl character.
and has dona oraaf ty.od A., his H..