Ashland weekly tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1919-1924, 1922-03-15
THE ROUGE RIVER
VALLEY SEVENTY
ONE YEARS AGO
(Reprinted from the Tidings Of
April s, 1907.)

April s, 1907.)
Mr.. James Thornton of this city
who was one of the earliest pioneer
OF the Rouge River valley, grew rem
iniscent in conversation with It'd
ings reporter the other day, as hi
recalled the fact that 1t was just 81
years and a few days since he frs
saw the Rogue River valley, which
has been his home continuously fol
more than half century. AT tina,
time there was scarcely settlement
between Salem in Oregon and Sacra'
mento in California, though well
defined trail used by the Indians, the
Hudson Bay traders and few in
trepid gold hunters followed the
course in a general way of the South
ern Pacific railroads Shasta route
that is now the main artery of COM
merce between the two states.
Mr.. Thornton was one of a party
of 22 men who started overland from
Lafayette, the pioneer settlement
OF old Yamhill county, February IL,
1851, for the California gold fields.
Only two of that party, himself and
Chasrles NJ. Hendrix, who now re-
sides at Perry, Iowa, survive, as far
as he knows. His brother, John
Thornton, and the late Jacob Wag-
ner, were among the members OF the
party, each of whom was equipped
with two good horses, and a good
supply Of flour and provisions for
making the long journey.
The party reached the Rogue Riv-
er valley about the goth of March,
and camped at a point now known as
Willow Springs, north OF Central
Point, whence they viewed and ad-
mired the native beauty of this val
ley, luXuriant in rich grasses, almost
tall enough to hide their horses from
sight. 1t was surely a land where
every prospect pleases" and even
man, except the Indian who had un-
disputed possession of 1t, had yet had
no opportunity to be vile here
No white man had yet disputed the
title of the aborigines who peered at
the travellers as they passed along
from the cover OF trees and brush,
though they exhibited no signs Of
hostility to the pale faces. The trail
followed around the edge OF the foot
hills on the west side Of the valley
and crossed Ashland creek at the
present site OF the city OF Ashland.
Here, on the banks OF the beautiful
stream which flowed then, as now,
clear and cold and pure from the
SHOWS OF the mountain peak In the
Siskiyous now called Ashland Butte,
there was a village OF Indian wicki-
ups. Apparently the red men OF those
days recognized the superior adyan-
tages OF Ashland as a residence
place as keenly as do their conquer
ers and successors OF the present
generation. The argonauts opened
up friendly negotiations with the In
dians with difficulty, but Mr.. Thorn
ton says as they passed on south
ward from the village with their
train, the redskins quietly followed
them and saw them safely on their
way across the Siskiyous, evidently
on the alert TO see what the white
men we're up to. Mr.. Thorton and
party travelled until they reached 9
point on the upper Sacramento abou
where Dunsmuir is now located
when a terrific storm overlook then
and upset their plans Of continuing
the journey together southwark
For five days and nights a snow
storm ragged and not only made ira
yelling impossible. but buried th'
grasses upon which they depended
for the feed OF the horses. severa
animals succumber. but each mem
ber Of the party had started with
hundred pounds Of flour, and thi
was fed to the starving horses ant
saved most OF them until the snow
which. though Il fell TO great deptl
went off with a warm rain after