East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1918-08-10
DAYSOF OLOARE
RECALLED BY VISIT
Of PIONEER FOLK
Pathfinder of West, William
Blakeley, Travels Old
Trail Again.

7
for the following article which ap-
pears this week in the American
Falls Press:
Mr.. and Mrs. w. NJ. Blakeley of
Pendleton, Oregon. are spending an
enforced vacation OF several days in
H Amrican Falls. They were on the.
way to Yellowstone park when their
car broke down about ten mites from
this city, leaving 1t in such shape that
several days were required TO put II
into serviceable form again. The
Oregon tourists were travelling over
the old Oregon trail as far as possible
and an inquiry from Mr.. Blakeley as
to the location of the pioneer monu-
ment led to the disclosure that he had
H travelled through this section of Idaho
in S46, when he was a boy of six
years.
Mr.. and Mrs. Blakeley are, well az
quainted with Ezra Meeker the IA
nous pathfinder and he had told
them about the pioneer monument
here.
In telling of the journey across the
plains in his boyhood Mr.. Blakeley
gave the following narrative:
His parents, James and Sarah
Blakeley We're natives of Knoxville,
Tennessee who in the '30s moved to
Missouri where the narrator was born
in 1910. In April. 1876. the family
joined an oxteam emigrant train and
started for the "Oregon country"
the fame of which had reached the
east Six or seven wagons were in the
outfit, and some of the incidents of
the journey are well remembered by
Pioneer Blakeley. 1t was customary
when night approached and camp was
HVfs.l Il, tn. r.Tr
Gle, the tongue of each wagon attach
ed TO the rear of another. thus form
ing a barrier not too easily surmount-
ed. In the enclosed circle the wom-
en- of the emigrant train would be
busy cooking supper while the men
attended to the gathering of fuel and
game. One evening while the W.T.
4 men were thus employed an Indian
rode up to the wagon barrier, jumped
his cayuse over a wagon tongue and
H proceeded to make a first class nui-
7ace of himself. One of the men of
Pthe wagon train, named Bealer, hap
pened along just then and dealt out
a most effective dose of chastisement
to the red man. who in disgrace joir-
ed his companions on the further
side of the barrier and was dcrideu
by them fer having been 'Iicked'' by
near the Sweetwater river In Wyo-
ming. The captain Of the train was
rather displeased with the action of
Bealer, thinking it would lead to an
attack from the Indians. but nothing
further happened. In fact, Mr.. Blake-
ley says that throughout the entire
journey from Missouri to Oregon very
little trouble or annoyance was caus-
ed by the Indians. once in a while
an OK would be found missing in the
morning, but no Indian ever ques-
TONED had the least knowledge of the
disappearance of the cattle-at least
not for publication.
The journey of the BIakclev family
ended at what is now Brownsville.
Oregon. 100 miles due south of PORT
land. The city of Brownsville takes
its name from a pioneer named
Brown, an uncle of Mr.. Blakeley The
father of Mr.. BIakeley made his home
near the present location of Browns
vile and was active in the upbuildlns
of Oregon for many years He was
\ born in Tennessee on November 26
1872, and died in Oregon, January s,
1913, more than 100 years Of age.
The mother died at the age of al
/ years.
Since he arrived in Oregon in 1916
Mr.. Blakekley has resided In that
state constantly. Like others of the
oregon pioneers, he has found it Inn
\ possible to leave the "Oregon coun-
try for any considerable length or
/ time. 1t is a habit with the Oregon
/ pioneer. and one that win never be
changed; and it is safe to say that the
/ constancy of these pioneers to their
I old state has been great factor in
the upbuilding and development OF
oregon. In 1864 Mr. Blakolev was
married to Miss Margaret Baird.
native Of Indiana, who crossed the
plains in 1853. She has shared the
hardships and trials Of the early pio-
neer days. For many years Mr.
Blakeley was engaged in the cattlel
business and for time he was en-
gagged in bullwhacking - hauling
freight with an oXteam. The latter
occupation was followed during the
days Of the civil war, and he well re-
members the stirring times of that
period; some Of those stirring. times
took place In Oregon, at that.
During the Nez Perce Indian war in
l6I4-1S Mr.. Blakeley Joined a com.
pany Of volunteers organized by the
sheriff Of Umatilla county and he
saw action IN the battle Of Willow
Springs. which engagement was
Fought south of Pendleton. The COM
pany lost Two men Killed ana ABOUT
a dozen were wounded. The Indians
also suffered casualties but as they
carried off their dead ana wounded,
the number was never learned. A
Few days after this engagement the
Indians under Chief Joseph were en-
gagcd by General o. O. Howard and
suffered further defeat.
Mr. Blakelcy served TWO terms a.
sheriff of umatilla county. oregon
and also FOR two terms represented
hat county in the lower house Of the
state legislature. This is the first trI1i
'f MI. an Mrs, Blakeley 10 YelloNl
.tone park. and they are enjoying the
ourney Notwithstanding that they
ire somewhat delayed by the misbe-
lavior Of their ear. While the wor-
hy couple OF pioneers are well along
n yeari-as years are counted by
lumbers-it can truthfully Le said
hat numbers In this case are merely