Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-05-22
RETURNS AFTER YEARS
JOSEPH D. LEE TALKS REMIN
ISCENTLY.
Former Resident Visits Scenes OF
Early Manhood Days in and
About Dallas.


Last Monday Mr.. Hart c. Eakin
introduced The Observer to a man
somewhat past middle life as an old
Dallasite. 1t was Joseph d. Lee, now
of Portland. He proved TO be full
of information relative to Polk coun-
ty, and Dallas in particular. 81
have just made tramp of eight
miles" said Mr.. Lee. 81 wished to
visit the cemetery south of Dallas.
There rest the remains of my parents,
Nicholas and Sarah Lee, and of many
old friends. | then went to the old
home on their donation claim three
miles south of Dallas, passing the
small butte on the DR.. Farley place,
where the first school house in that
neighborhood was erected in 1888.
/ attended the first school. 1t was
taught by Daniel Sammis. In 1857
/ commenced going to the Academy,
which was partly completed. Prof.
Horace Lyman and Miss Lizzie Boise
were the teachers. Our farm house
was built by father in 1852, and the
large red barn two or three years lat
er. They are in a fair state of pres
ervation for the usage they have had.
Ny folks came to Oregon in lo47,
moved to Polk county in 1848, where
I was born. In 1849 they moved on
the donation claim. Subdivision and
development have changed the aspect
of things there. While at the house
I watched the autos whirl past on
the wagon road and a trainload of
logs thundered past on the Falls City
railroad just above the house. The
fruit trees helped to plant have be-
come old and gnarled. The large
oaks were the most natural, and al
most seemed like old friends. Three
score years have made but little diff
ference with them. The groves OF
fir, which have grown since | was
child have changed the aspect of the
hills. Some of those trees are three
feet in diameter.
81 wended my way diagonally
across the place to the southeast
portion, which is the most pictures
que, where are small lakes high up
in the hills. In my boyhood days |
used to linger around them and hunt
birds and squirrels. Passing east
ward over the divide, | came along
an old road l helped to view out
half century ago, through the little
valley where were the donation claims
of Mr.. p. p. Hooker and his brother
in-law, Mr.. Barows, thence on to Dal-
las. During all the time memory was
busy. SO far as | know the original
settlers joining us have passed to the
beyond: John Nichols, David and
Robert Guthrie, Reuben Glaze and
S. 7. Scott, and those little more
remote, Jackson William and Porter
Robert Farley, DR.. Geo. B.
Dana, Isaac Harris and his sons, who
went to California. Possibly some of
his boys are living. John Mcdowell, (
1 son-in-law of John Nichols, is still
living, | believe. Barrows and Hook ,
II, whom | mentioned, have joined :
he silent majority. All were splen-
lid neighbors and good citizens.
"Father started mercantile bus +
ness in Dallas in 1862. In 1870 | !;
became interested in it. He went a
nut in 1878, and continued until +
1888 when | moved to The Dalles. c
The high school is built on the site
# my former residence. The trees r
n front were planted by me. h
Father and mother died at the old /;
lone on the farm in 1879 and 1881 O
| was married in 1872 4
md my four children were born in
Dallas.
From 1878 to 1883 | represented
'olk county in the Legislature, two g
ears in the house and eight years in
he senate, the last four jointly with I
Benton county. Very few of the old .
friends fand neighbors are left. | o
hould like to take all by the hand g
n hearty greeting, but | can only be +
II Dallas few hours. | expect to G
axe an extended trip east this sum- 7
ner." G