"The family moved to North Carolina where their son, Hugh, served in the militia when he was only 15.
Seeking new land after the Revolutionary War, the family moved to Fayette, Kentucky, and lived there for 28 years before moving to Illinois. James and Alexander, sons of Hugh, became interested in tales of the mild climate and rich land of the Oregon country, and in 1843 decided to go to Missouri to prepare for the wagon train trip to the West Coast.
Alexander's family went immediately and James followed with his wife and children m 1844. It was too late in the year to start out for Oregon and the following year they were told that they should wait at least until May so that there would be sufficient grass for the teams and stock. It was recommended that each family take 150 pounds of flour, 50 pounds of bacon, and other staples as they saw fit for the four or five months the journey would take. They were also to take livestock enough to provide 100-150 pounds of beef per person on the way.
Jumping the gun a bit, a 6O-wagon train left Missouri on April 29, 1845, and the McNarys went with it. The journey was difficult; some days the travelers had nothing to eat. Twenty-five persons died and were buried along the way.
When they reached Oregon, the McNarys were among those who elected to take the Meek Cutoff over the mountains. The party suffered extreme hardship. It was someone in their wagon train who found some heavy, yellow pebbles while carrying water from Twelve-Mile Creek, and brought them back to camp in a blue bucket. When the pebbles were pounded they were found to be soft and malleable and guessed to be gold. Years later gold was found in that area and the mine was named the Blue Bucket Mine after the initial discovery.
The McNarys and their companions met the rest of their train at The Dalles. They had traveled 1817 miles in 161 days.
Hugh McNary with one of 7 daughters. The wagon train went on to the Willamette Valley. James filed a land claim on 645 acres at Oregon City; Alexander went on to Oak Grove in Polk County.
Both McNarys had sons named Hugh. Hugh, son of James and the former Elizabeth Sharp, was only 5-1/2 years old when the family left Morgan County, Illinois, for Oregon. He stayed on his father's farm at Oregon City for ten years, then went to Linn County where he taught school for several years, later taking up a 160-acre claim near Scio. Hugh McNary married Mary Margaret Claggett of Keizer Bottom on December 21, 1854, and took his bride back to Linn County. The young couple settled their claim on January 26, 1855. In 1866 they sold their land and moved to Keizer with their five children who ranged in age from one to 7 years: Mary Elizabeth (Bruce) called Bess, was born in 1859; Martha (Savage), 1862; Sarah E. (Nina), 1860; Eliza, 1863; and Harriett, 1865. Hugh and Margaret purchased 112.39 acres from Margaret's father, Charles Claggett. (Governor Os West states that Claggett gave the acreage to his son-in-law as a wedding present, but deed records indicate a $1,000 consideration in the transaction, which took place 12 years after the marriage.)
Five more children were born to the couple: John Hugh in 1868; Ella in 1871; James, who died in infancy, 1872; Charles Unza, 1874; and Julia, 1876.
Margaret McNary died in 1878. The oldest daughter, Bess, was married to Tom Bruce at that time, and Nina (Sarah Elizabeth) who was 18 then, took over rearing the younger children, besides teaching at the new one-room school which had been built at Keizer that year.
Hugh moved his family into Salem in order to obtain better schooling facilities for his children, but continued to operate the farm in Keizer until his death, July 18, 1883.
He had remarried, but had left no will. The widow, the former Julia Johnson, and the children sold their shares of the McNary to the Bruces, who continued to work it. In the estate there was also the house in town on a double lot, and three other lots in north Salem.
The Bruces sold about 101 acres to Alice and C.A. Harold in 1911, and the farm was purchased by the Raymond Jungwirths in 1944.
All the McNary children graduated from high school and attended universities. Charles attended Stanford University for two years. He and John became attorneys, practicing in Salem. John later became federal judge
Written by the, Keizertimes Newspaper is the weekly community newspaper serving Keizer, Oregon. The newspaper was founded in 1979.OFFICE: 142 Chemawa Road N., in the heart of Keizer.
Seeking new land after the Revolutionary War, the family moved to Fayette, Kentucky, and lived there for 28 years before moving to Illinois. James and Alexander, sons of Hugh, became interested in tales of the mild climate and rich land of the Oregon country, and in 1843 decided to go to Missouri to prepare for the wagon train trip to the West Coast.
Alexander's family went immediately and James followed with his wife and children m 1844. It was too late in the year to start out for Oregon and the following year they were told that they should wait at least until May so that there would be sufficient grass for the teams and stock. It was recommended that each family take 150 pounds of flour, 50 pounds of bacon, and other staples as they saw fit for the four or five months the journey would take. They were also to take livestock enough to provide 100-150 pounds of beef per person on the way.
Jumping the gun a bit, a 6O-wagon train left Missouri on April 29, 1845, and the McNarys went with it. The journey was difficult; some days the travelers had nothing to eat. Twenty-five persons died and were buried along the way.
When they reached Oregon, the McNarys were among those who elected to take the Meek Cutoff over the mountains. The party suffered extreme hardship. It was someone in their wagon train who found some heavy, yellow pebbles while carrying water from Twelve-Mile Creek, and brought them back to camp in a blue bucket. When the pebbles were pounded they were found to be soft and malleable and guessed to be gold. Years later gold was found in that area and the mine was named the Blue Bucket Mine after the initial discovery.
The McNarys and their companions met the rest of their train at The Dalles. They had traveled 1817 miles in 161 days.
Hugh McNary with one of 7 daughters. The wagon train went on to the Willamette Valley. James filed a land claim on 645 acres at Oregon City; Alexander went on to Oak Grove in Polk County.
Both McNarys had sons named Hugh. Hugh, son of James and the former Elizabeth Sharp, was only 5-1/2 years old when the family left Morgan County, Illinois, for Oregon. He stayed on his father's farm at Oregon City for ten years, then went to Linn County where he taught school for several years, later taking up a 160-acre claim near Scio. Hugh McNary married Mary Margaret Claggett of Keizer Bottom on December 21, 1854, and took his bride back to Linn County. The young couple settled their claim on January 26, 1855. In 1866 they sold their land and moved to Keizer with their five children who ranged in age from one to 7 years: Mary Elizabeth (Bruce) called Bess, was born in 1859; Martha (Savage), 1862; Sarah E. (Nina), 1860; Eliza, 1863; and Harriett, 1865. Hugh and Margaret purchased 112.39 acres from Margaret's father, Charles Claggett. (Governor Os West states that Claggett gave the acreage to his son-in-law as a wedding present, but deed records indicate a $1,000 consideration in the transaction, which took place 12 years after the marriage.)
Five more children were born to the couple: John Hugh in 1868; Ella in 1871; James, who died in infancy, 1872; Charles Unza, 1874; and Julia, 1876.
Margaret McNary died in 1878. The oldest daughter, Bess, was married to Tom Bruce at that time, and Nina (Sarah Elizabeth) who was 18 then, took over rearing the younger children, besides teaching at the new one-room school which had been built at Keizer that year.
Hugh moved his family into Salem in order to obtain better schooling facilities for his children, but continued to operate the farm in Keizer until his death, July 18, 1883.
He had remarried, but had left no will. The widow, the former Julia Johnson, and the children sold their shares of the McNary to the Bruces, who continued to work it. In the estate there was also the house in town on a double lot, and three other lots in north Salem.
The Bruces sold about 101 acres to Alice and C.A. Harold in 1911, and the farm was purchased by the Raymond Jungwirths in 1944.
All the McNary children graduated from high school and attended universities. Charles attended Stanford University for two years. He and John became attorneys, practicing in Salem. John later became federal judge
Written by the, Keizertimes Newspaper is the weekly community newspaper serving Keizer, Oregon. The newspaper was founded in 1979.OFFICE: 142 Chemawa Road N., in the heart of Keizer.
"The family moved to North Carolina where their son, Hugh, served in the militia when he was only 15.
Seeking new land after the Revolutionary War, the family moved to Fayette, Kentucky, and lived there for 28 years before moving to Illinois. James and Alexander, sons of Hugh, became interested in tales of the mild climate and rich land of the Oregon country, and in 1843 decided to go to Missouri to prepare for the wagon train trip to the West Coast.
Alexander's family went immediately and James followed with his wife and children m 1844. It was too late in the year to start out for Oregon and the following year they were told that they should wait at least until May so that there would be sufficient grass for the teams and stock. It was recommended that each family take 150 pounds of flour, 50 pounds of bacon, and other staples as they saw fit for the four or five months the journey would take. They were also to take livestock enough to provide 100-150 pounds of beef per person on the way.
Jumping the gun a bit, a 6O-wagon train left Missouri on April 29, 1845, and the McNarys went with it. The journey was difficult; some days the travelers had nothing to eat. Twenty-five persons died and were buried along the way.
When they reached Oregon, the McNarys were among those who elected to take the Meek Cutoff over the mountains. The party suffered extreme hardship. It was someone in their wagon train who found some heavy, yellow pebbles while carrying water from Twelve-Mile Creek, and brought them back to camp in a blue bucket. When the pebbles were pounded they were found to be soft and malleable and guessed to be gold. Years later gold was found in that area and the mine was named the Blue Bucket Mine after the initial discovery.
The McNarys and their companions met the rest of their train at The Dalles. They had traveled 1817 miles in 161 days.
Hugh McNary with one of 7 daughters. The wagon train went on to the Willamette Valley. James filed a land claim on 645 acres at Oregon City; Alexander went on to Oak Grove in Polk County.
Both McNarys had sons named Hugh. Hugh, son of James and the former Elizabeth Sharp, was only 5-1/2 years old when the family left Morgan County, Illinois, for Oregon. He stayed on his father's farm at Oregon City for ten years, then went to Linn County where he taught school for several years, later taking up a 160-acre claim near Scio. Hugh McNary married Mary Margaret Claggett of Keizer Bottom on December 21, 1854, and took his bride back to Linn County. The young couple settled their claim on January 26, 1855. In 1866 they sold their land and moved to Keizer with their five children who ranged in age from one to 7 years: Mary Elizabeth (Bruce) called Bess, was born in 1859; Martha (Savage), 1862; Sarah E. (Nina), 1860; Eliza, 1863; and Harriett, 1865. Hugh and Margaret purchased 112.39 acres from Margaret's father, Charles Claggett. (Governor Os West states that Claggett gave the acreage to his son-in-law as a wedding present, but deed records indicate a $1,000 consideration in the transaction, which took place 12 years after the marriage.)
Five more children were born to the couple: John Hugh in 1868; Ella in 1871; James, who died in infancy, 1872; Charles Unza, 1874; and Julia, 1876.
Margaret McNary died in 1878. The oldest daughter, Bess, was married to Tom Bruce at that time, and Nina (Sarah Elizabeth) who was 18 then, took over rearing the younger children, besides teaching at the new one-room school which had been built at Keizer that year.
Hugh moved his family into Salem in order to obtain better schooling facilities for his children, but continued to operate the farm in Keizer until his death, July 18, 1883.
He had remarried, but had left no will. The widow, the former Julia Johnson, and the children sold their shares of the McNary to the Bruces, who continued to work it. In the estate there was also the house in town on a double lot, and three other lots in north Salem.
The Bruces sold about 101 acres to Alice and C.A. Harold in 1911, and the farm was purchased by the Raymond Jungwirths in 1944.
All the McNary children graduated from high school and attended universities. Charles attended Stanford University for two years. He and John became attorneys, practicing in Salem. John later became federal judge
Written by the, Keizertimes Newspaper is the weekly community newspaper serving Keizer, Oregon. The newspaper was founded in 1979.OFFICE: 142 Chemawa Road N., in the heart of Keizer.
Seeking new land after the Revolutionary War, the family moved to Fayette, Kentucky, and lived there for 28 years before moving to Illinois. James and Alexander, sons of Hugh, became interested in tales of the mild climate and rich land of the Oregon country, and in 1843 decided to go to Missouri to prepare for the wagon train trip to the West Coast.
Alexander's family went immediately and James followed with his wife and children m 1844. It was too late in the year to start out for Oregon and the following year they were told that they should wait at least until May so that there would be sufficient grass for the teams and stock. It was recommended that each family take 150 pounds of flour, 50 pounds of bacon, and other staples as they saw fit for the four or five months the journey would take. They were also to take livestock enough to provide 100-150 pounds of beef per person on the way.
Jumping the gun a bit, a 6O-wagon train left Missouri on April 29, 1845, and the McNarys went with it. The journey was difficult; some days the travelers had nothing to eat. Twenty-five persons died and were buried along the way.
When they reached Oregon, the McNarys were among those who elected to take the Meek Cutoff over the mountains. The party suffered extreme hardship. It was someone in their wagon train who found some heavy, yellow pebbles while carrying water from Twelve-Mile Creek, and brought them back to camp in a blue bucket. When the pebbles were pounded they were found to be soft and malleable and guessed to be gold. Years later gold was found in that area and the mine was named the Blue Bucket Mine after the initial discovery.
The McNarys and their companions met the rest of their train at The Dalles. They had traveled 1817 miles in 161 days.
Hugh McNary with one of 7 daughters. The wagon train went on to the Willamette Valley. James filed a land claim on 645 acres at Oregon City; Alexander went on to Oak Grove in Polk County.
Both McNarys had sons named Hugh. Hugh, son of James and the former Elizabeth Sharp, was only 5-1/2 years old when the family left Morgan County, Illinois, for Oregon. He stayed on his father's farm at Oregon City for ten years, then went to Linn County where he taught school for several years, later taking up a 160-acre claim near Scio. Hugh McNary married Mary Margaret Claggett of Keizer Bottom on December 21, 1854, and took his bride back to Linn County. The young couple settled their claim on January 26, 1855. In 1866 they sold their land and moved to Keizer with their five children who ranged in age from one to 7 years: Mary Elizabeth (Bruce) called Bess, was born in 1859; Martha (Savage), 1862; Sarah E. (Nina), 1860; Eliza, 1863; and Harriett, 1865. Hugh and Margaret purchased 112.39 acres from Margaret's father, Charles Claggett. (Governor Os West states that Claggett gave the acreage to his son-in-law as a wedding present, but deed records indicate a $1,000 consideration in the transaction, which took place 12 years after the marriage.)
Five more children were born to the couple: John Hugh in 1868; Ella in 1871; James, who died in infancy, 1872; Charles Unza, 1874; and Julia, 1876.
Margaret McNary died in 1878. The oldest daughter, Bess, was married to Tom Bruce at that time, and Nina (Sarah Elizabeth) who was 18 then, took over rearing the younger children, besides teaching at the new one-room school which had been built at Keizer that year.
Hugh moved his family into Salem in order to obtain better schooling facilities for his children, but continued to operate the farm in Keizer until his death, July 18, 1883.
He had remarried, but had left no will. The widow, the former Julia Johnson, and the children sold their shares of the McNary to the Bruces, who continued to work it. In the estate there was also the house in town on a double lot, and three other lots in north Salem.
The Bruces sold about 101 acres to Alice and C.A. Harold in 1911, and the farm was purchased by the Raymond Jungwirths in 1944.
All the McNary children graduated from high school and attended universities. Charles attended Stanford University for two years. He and John became attorneys, practicing in Salem. John later became federal judge
Written by the, Keizertimes Newspaper is the weekly community newspaper serving Keizer, Oregon. The newspaper was founded in 1979.OFFICE: 142 Chemawa Road N., in the heart of Keizer.
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