Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-04-17

trail in the earl fifties and came to
the Rogue River Valley.
Here the burdens of opening and
developing the rich resources which
you and today enjoy was amply
worked out by those certain families
who passed through many hardships.
Who could not, standing In the edge
of t0is forest primeval. aud looking
Westward say As you behold our
teeming little city, girs round the
rugged mountains Fair Grants Pass
lies
about 1851 J. K. Jones and wife
took up what is knwon as donation
land claim number 3S and since the
governmental survey it is known as
sections i6. II and 30. Having staked
out their claim and built rude cabin
they lived short time in happiness
and without disturbance. The family
consisted Of husband and wife and
one brother. The cabin was built so
as to occupy two claims and shelter
two families. Along in October 1861
on the morning of the 9th. the little
home, with the nearest neighbor at
venoy Ferry down the river and the
nearest Post office at Rock Point. the
Jones family found themselves sur
rounded with Rogue River Indians
who we're hostile anG on the war
path, as it was the approach Of a
general outbreak of these Indians
throughout the valley. The Jones
family were first to suffer. Mr.. Jones
was killed first. Mrs. Jones escaped
to the vicinity of this spring and Of.
tempted to hide but an Indian shot
her. the ball passing down the arm
into her body. She was found later
by neighbors who were apprehensive
of Indian difficulties, and taken to
the venoy Ferry, where she survived
for 4S hours.
"This incident Of the death Of Mr..
and Mr.. Jones brought the title to
this land in question as to who died
first and for this information it was
necessary to get the affidavit Of Mrs.
Margaret Tufts. who has been resi-
deut Of Rogue River Valley since
1850 After the death of Mr.. and
Mrs Jones the land passed to the
Swartz and then to Scholes and In
1859 Margaret Tufts and husband &C.
quired this part of the claim and
lived here for many years. II was
here they raised their familv OF
children to manhood aud womsnhood.
And l may here remark that very few
pioneer families have found theii
children so closely identified with sue
cess as in this instance. / speah
specially of the one who has been ON
ployed in our public school for thu
past decade and of the other who il
one Of the leading members of ou
council and president OF one Of tn,
banking institutions of the city. II
these we find the attributes worthy o
a mothers pride. Is 1t any wonde
that grandma Tufts sits in our pres
ence here today and looks yearningl.
upon past recollections Of this endear
ing old homestead Let me add tn
sentiment of the poet, Pity old ag
within whose gray hairs honor AN
reverence evermore hath lain.
"Lst Us close this incident b.
naming the park today dedicated t.
the city of Grants Pass The Tuff
Park in honor of Margaret Tufts an
her worthy family. who have lived 4
our community for the past half cen
tury.'
The assembly was then taken bac
70 the city in automobiles in time 70
!, the MONDAY lunch, refreshed an,
greatly pleased with the morning out
ing and the exercises.
Mr.. Sherman secured this tract {
, $50 acres with a view 70 planting
, 10 Toksy grapes, and Afterwards sol
3 dividing it in acreage property an
= placing it on the market. He hi
rendered 10 acres or whatever pare,
5 Of land the citv may elect, for a par
q at whatever time the the city oounc
a may see ft TO take 1t for park pu
4 poses, and in whatever part Of the 81
acre tract the council may elect, eve
including the historic old stage hous
, the only condition being that the eli
will repair and maintain the stal
j coach house in a manner commensu
? ate with its historic Importance.