This email and the next one I reply to should both be re-sent to the correct email address for our MailList on the OREGON TRAIL. You sent it to the wrong one: ([email protected]). The correct one is: [email protected] Please do re-send them, the subscribers I know would like to tsee them. Rose Terry @>,--'--- Stephen Clark wrote: > > The Family of Rev. Jonathan Snow Tibbetts of Manchester, Dearborn Co., > Indiana, Oakland, and Portland, Oregon > > Rev. Jonathan S. Tibbetts of Manchester township, Dearborn Co., Indiana, and > of Oakland, Oregon, (1852) later of Portland, Oregon, was a pioneer > Methodist minister, born 17Apr.1804, in Penobscot Co., Maine, some 17 mi. > west of Bangor, died 23Jun188, in East Portland, buried in Lone Fir > Cemetery. Rev. Tibbetts was the son of Benjamin and Hannah (Snow) Tibbetts. > He married Mary Redding of Versailles, Ripley Co., Indiana, in 1830. Rev. > Tibbetts, when about 30 years of age, was ordained at Whitewater, Indiana, > by Bishop Cavanaugh of Kentucky, as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal > Church. He preached for many years in Indiana. > > The following account of trek to Oregon was given by his daughter Sarah > (Tibbetts) Gouldin and is posted here by his descendent Stephen Clark. > > ³In 1851 he removed with his family from Manchester, Indiana, spending the > winter in Oquawka, Illinois, and, in March, 1852, starting from Fort > Madison, Iowa, he commenced the long, tedious overland journey to Oregon > with his wife and eight children. He commanded the wagon train in which > the trip was made across the plains. They traveled in a caravan, with > ox-teams, enduring many hardships and being eight months on the way before > they reached Portland. Among other traveling companions were the families > of John Tucker Scott and Dr. Justin Millard. > > Crossing the desert, they journeyed by night, owing to the intense heat. > They never traveled on the Sabbath Day. On that day Rev. Jonathan Tibbetts > held services morning and evening, and preached to hundreds of pilgrims > journeying on the same mission as themselves; to make a home in the far > west. He made many converts on his way across the continent. > > Upon reaching the Snake River, where most of the caravans crossed, his > party, of 17 wagons and about 25 men, chose a shorter route > and, by so doing, encountered the village of the Snake River Indians, who > were by no means willing to allow them to continue on their way unmolested. > > There were about eight hundred Indians, men, women, and children, and they > were determined to rob the travelers of their animals, provisions, etc., and > did everything they could to make the little party start a fight. Their > Chief understood English, and Rev. Tibbetts stood on the wagon-tongue for > three hours or more, preaching to the Indians and holding them at bay, the > Chief translating to his tribe, telling them that they (the Pioneers) > positively refused to have any trouble ... that he was a missionary > preacher, and if they gave any trouble, the Government would punish them... > that Fort Boise, Idaho, government barracks was only fifty miles away, and > was sending out soldiers to meet them ... the courier had passed them the > day before with an appeal from the emigrants, to the commander of the Fort, > to send soldiers and provisions. The Indians followed them for miles, > taunting them and doing everything they could to hinder their journey, until > two or three hours before the appearance of the soldiers. Their scouts > (the Indians) gave the signal and they disappeared. > > Rev.Jonathan S. Tibbetts and family spent a part of the year, 1852, in > Portland, and then moved to the Umpq ua Valley, settling near Oakland on > the Calapooia, the Rev. buying a farm from an Indian. Here he took up his > missionary work, he being the only minister in fifty miles, the first in the > Umpqua Valley Circuit. > > He had a large district to cover, the population being so scattered; among > them Indians, French, and half-breeds. He often rode horseback twenty > miles Sunday morning to preach, returning at night. On these trips he was > accompanied by his twelve-year-old daughter, Sarah, who taught Sabbath > School and learned the Chinook jargon in order to teach the Indians. After > the Indian War of 1855 the country settled very rapidly and a better class > of people came to that locality. He is said to have made more converts > than anyone in that part of the state. > > Rev. Jonathan S. Tibbetts was closely associated, in southern Oregon, with > such interesting personages as Rev. Robert Booth, I.D. Driver, and Elder > Wilbur, with whom he helped to build the first collage (Wilbur Seminary) in > that part of the state. He spent the last years of his life in Portland, > where he died at the age of eighty-one, having been in the work of the > ministry forty-five years, and preaching until within two years of his > death. His wife was a great help and inspiration to him in his work. She > was a woman of strength and good health and had a great magnetic influence. > Her home was open house to the weary traveler and she entertained all who > came that way. > > Rev. Jonathan S. and Mary (Redding) Tibbetts had ten children, all but the > last two being born in Manchester township, Dearborn Co., Indiana. > > i. Elizabeth Jane, b. 16Dec.1832 > ii. Mary Eliza, b. 16Feb.1835 > iii. Francis Marion, b. 2Nov.1837 > iv. Sarah Emily, b. 28Feb.1840 > v. Sophia Ellen, b. 16Jun.1842 > vi. Albert Thomas, b. 16Dec.1844 > vii. Flora Ann, b. 23Oct.1847 > viii. Lois V., b. 19Sept.1850 > ix. Oregon Andrew, b. 25Dec.1853 > x. Jonathan Edward, b. 11Nov.1856 -- \\\|/// \\ ~ ~ // Give your children these two things - One is roots, ( @ @ ) the other, wings. -oOOo-(_)-oOOo- Rose CAUDLE TERRY, Washington state @>,--'--- BILYEU, WORKMAN & OREGON TRAIL Listmom (genealogical) Proud RootsWeb Sponsor [email protected] http://www.genealogy.bilyeu.com/ Current publications available at: http://cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid=rosess Use Paypal for your Auction purchases (credit card), sign up and get $5 in your account! Check it out and see for yourself: https://secure.paypal.com/refer/pal=RMTerry%40prodigy.net