Very interesting Sue. Thank you for sharing it with the Polk Co. list. Glad they are resting with their family. Lynn > [Original Message] > From: Sue Steward <ssteward@ccountry.net> > To: <ORPOLK-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 1/18/2008 5:08:30 PM > Subject: [ORPOLK] Descendants of Polk County Prioneers Laid to Rest > > > Thought this might be of interest to someone on this list. > > > > At Rest > > Melvin Hayter and Robert Edward Lee Hayter, two members of a pioneer Coos County family, were laid to rest in Upper Fishtrap Cemetery on January 12, 2008 alongside their parents and older sister. They died far from family and friends. Even though many changes have occurred in the Coquille Valley more than six decades since their passing, the Upper Fishtrap Cemetery is probably much as it was at the time of their passing. > > Based on news stories in recent months regarding the unclaimed cremated remains of former patients of the Oregon State Hospital, the process was started to claim the remains of these early Coos County pioneers and bring them home to a final resting place. It was assumed over the years by later generations that their remains were buried on the hospital grounds. > > Melvin Hayter was born Feb 17, 1862 in Polk County, Oregon to Washington L. and Sarah C. (Crowley) Hayter. Based on a biographical sketch from the Centennial History of Oregon, he moved with his father to Coos County in 1865 "where they took up land near Fishtrap on the Coquille River..." Melvin was married May 27, 1896 to Nettie Pearl Steward who was a member of the pioneer Steward family in Coos County. To this union were born two sons: Lester James Hayter and Alvin Hayter. Melvin passed away Feb 6, 1944 at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. > > Robert Edward Lee Hayter was born Aug 20, 1871 in Coquille, Oregon to Washington L. and Sarah C. (Crowley) Hayter. Robert lived and worked in Coos County his entire life. Robert passed away June 22, 1945 at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. > > Their parents, siblings, and Melvin's wife and two sons are all gone but they have not been forgotten. May they rest in peace. > > **************************** > > Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 4. > Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. pp. 331-332. > > MELVIN HAYTER is a native of Oregon, the son of a pioneer in its settlement and has been a resident of Coos county for almost 50 years. During this time he has > gained the respect and esteem of his friends and acquaintances by reason of a consistently honest, upright and straightforward life. He was born in Polk county, near The Dalles, on March 15, 1863, and is a son of W. L. And Sarah (Crowley) Hayter, natives of Platt City, Missouri. They were married in that section and crossed the plains in pioneer times, locating in Polk county where they took up a donation land claim upon which they lived until 1865. In that year they disposed of their property and came to Coos county where the father took up land near Fishtrap on the Coquille river, which he improved and operated for a number of years, disposing of his holdings eventually in order to purchase one hundred and sixty acres in the same section. After a time he sold this ranch also and bought a farm near Arago and after a few years successful > cultivation of the soil in that section moved to Bandon where he lived retired until his death which occurred in 1909. He and his wife became the parents of fifteen children: Theodosia and Richard M., who reside in California; Sarah, who has passed away; Melvin, the subject of this review; James, also a resident of California; William, whose residence is unknown; Priscilla, the wife of R. S. Knowlton of Coquille, Oregon; Robert, who makes his home in Marshfield; Ella, the widow of Robert Long of Polk county, Oregon; Cora, who married John Lindebeck of California; Edith, who became the wife of Grant Beal, also of California; May, the wife of Alva Lee, a resident of Myrtle Point; Andrew J., who makes his home in the same city; Wilbur O., of California; and Charles, who is deceased. > > Melvin Hayter grew up upon his father's farm and at an early date became acquainted with the best agricultural methods and gained a personal experience in the details of farm operation. He had the distinction of attending the first school in Coos county and pursued the usual course of studies until he was fourteen years of age. He then went to work in the logging camps and followed lumbering for twenty-eight years, abandoning the occupation at the end of that time in favor of general farming. He pre-empted a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres which he cultivated and improved for a number of years, bringing it to a high state of development. He recently sold this property and bought a home in Riverton where he resided only a short time afterward leasing his father's property upon which he resided for a year and a half. He then > retired from independent agricultural life, purchased other property in Riverton and now works upon neighboring farms. > > In 1895 Mr. Hayter was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Pearl Steward, a sister of George A. Steward of whom further mention is made elsewhere in this work. To > their union was born two children: Lusta H., who was born in 1901, and who is a pupil in the public schools of her native city; and Alvin, whose birth occurred in 1904, and who is also attending school. > > Mr. Hayter is liberal in his political views preferring not to affiliate with any party. He takes an intelligent interest in public affairs but has never sought office. He belongs to the Woodmen of the World, his only fraternal affiliation. During the forty-eight years of his residence in Oregon he has won true success in gaining the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORPOLK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message