Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1907-07-16
A SCRAP OF HISTORY
correspondent Tells How Mountain
Stream in Polk County Derived
It's Name.

Edltor.)-I desire to bring back to the
memory OF those who knew him the
name Of one Of Polk county's earliest
pioneer citizens, and at the same time
TO give a true scrap of history CON
cerning the naming Of one of the
prominent streams in the county.
Marquis DeLafayette Gillian, the
subject OF this sketch, was the son Of
Colonel Cornelius Gillian, who was
Killed at Wells Springs in Eastern
oregon while in command of the Ore
gon forces, March I2, 1s4s.
Marcus" as he was always known
oy his companions, crossed the plains
with his fathers family in 1874, a lad
OF tender years, but having all the
characteristics Of an American boy,
thoroughly imbued with patriotism,
absorbed from his famous father,
The youngsters education was of
necessity very limited, but in due
course of time he became a consider
able reader of such literature as
Robert Burns poems, Sir Walter
Scott's Lady of the Lake" and the
Life OF General Francis Marion, !"
and from his reading of the
life of the Carolina Swamp
Fox came the naming of Pedee
creek in this county. Having read Of
the Generals exploits, and believing
Marion the greatest man since Roderic
Dhu, he conceived the idea Of changing
the name OF the North Fork Of the Big
Luckiamute river to Pedee, in honor
OF the General, which he did-at the
same time rehearsing to his COM
panions the exploits Of Marion, and
exacting of them a promise to use on
all occasions the name Pedee instead
OF North Fork. This they willingly
did, and today few persons know that
the stream ever had another name.
Young Gillian was born leader Of
boys, and in the early days was the
oracle of the Luckiamute country
among his companions. He always
led, never followed, and was as true
as steel in his friendships. He was
the defender of the weak. kind-hearted
and liberal to "a fault. The survivors
Of the Yakima Indian War, to a man,
remember Mark GILLIAN. with his
wonderful fund of cheerfuIness,
always lively, and at,all times ready
for the fray. Soon after reaching his
majority, he married Miss Sarah
Waters and settled down to the life OF
a model farmer, after having had
perhaps as much fun out Of life as
anyone living.
In his early life, he was a great
hunter and mountaineer. He knew
every hunting ground, peak, stream
and forest in the mountains lying on
either side of the Pedee. Bald Mount
ain had its enchanted precincts, where
he periodically went in quest Of big
game, though he was never known to
kill for the hides, or for the meat be-
yond his needs.
His most remarkable traits were his
lasting friendships, undying patriot
ism, and love Of sports. He was kind
hearted and hospitable, and though
inclined to be combative, was always
the friend of the week. Exciting, fun
ny and pathetic incidents in the life
of this marvellous man could be told
until your space would forbid, but suf-
flee it to say that noblemen are not al
ways titled, and that gentleman was
always to be found in him, though al
times seemingly in the rough. In his
death 10 1868, the country lost a patri-
otic citizen, who never shirked his
duty and was always ready to respond
to the call of his country in the troub'
lous times of the early Indian wars In
Oregon and Washington.
His widow who yet survives him, il
a vigorous old lady, and makes hel
home with her son, Frank Gillian
on the old home place, surrounded by
the comforts of life and honored and
respected by all who know her. Othel
descendants are two daughters, mar
ried and we'll situated in life. MAY
the memory Of M. D. L. Gillian b'
kept green in the hearts OF all lovers
Of honest, brave, eongenial men.
w. G.