Ben and Gena were married April 27, 1918.
Benjamin Walter Cooley was in the Home Guard during WW1 and served from May of 1918 into January of 1919.
His first stop in California was at Fort McDowell in San Francisco. This was on an island in the San Francisco Bay.
Within a few days he was sent to The Presidio of Monterey at Monterey, California.
He served there until December 10, 1918.
From Monterey he was then sent to Camp Kearney (now Miramar), located about 11 miles north of San Diego.
There he was processed for discharge January 1919.
By Benjamin M. Cooley
1891:
Birth, March 10, 1891, Chadron, Dawes Co., Nebraska.
Ben traveled from Nebraska to Oregon with his father, mother and grandparents. He seemed to have memories of this trip although it is more likely that things were told to him concerning the trip. He also had memories of where the family settled and how they lived and worked. Although once again, even though he recalled many events and situations, the earliest memories were implanted by his father and mother. It is certain that he remembered his grandfather Benjamin Spencer and his grandmother Sarah. In 1968 Ben made an oral family history recording for his son Benjamin Merle Cooley. This recording was done just a few months before his death on December 27, 1968.
Some notes from the oral history:
" In 1891during the latter part of the year, the family traveled by train from Nebraska. Benjamin traveled with his wife, Sarah, his son Charles David and his wife Flora and their infant son Benjamin Walter Cooley.
Benjamin and Charles brought live stock with them which they tended in the cattle cars on the train.
He was known to be a good carpenter and made household furniture for the family in his workshop when they had settled in the community of New Hope in Southern Oregon.
About 1896 Benjamin Spencer took his wife Sarah, his son Charles David and his grandson his grandson for a short time to a location on Deer Creek, in the Illinois Valley, to search for gold. There were several locations in the Illinois Valley where gold was found but apparently Benjamin Spencer did not have this sort of luck.
Many of Benjamin's hand tools were passed down to Charles and he in turn passed them along to his sons."
His memories also include this additional information that was kept in a note by his son Benjamin Merle Cooley.
The family traveled by train to Portland. They first made a stop in Silverton and then traveled on south to Ashland. They brought with them some livestock which Charles David and Benjamin Spencer cared for in the stock car. In Ashland they stayed for a short while in a house near the railroad depot and Charles David and probably Benjamin Spencer as well cut wood into fire lengths for the railroad. Within a few months they traveled to New Hope (about 10 miles south of Grants Pass) where they settled on a homestead of 160 acres. They built a home and barn. Benjamin Spencer had a shop in the upper part of the barn with access by a stairway rather than a ladder. Grandma Sarah had ducks. The land had a creek.
During the year of 1896 his grandfather decided he wanted to look for gold so he went with his wife and Grandson to a cabin on Deer Creek. The exact location is not known but there were several places where gold was panned from Deer Creek.
In 1897 they moved to a place he called the Miller ranch where his father Charles David became foreman. The ranch was mostly prune orchards and hops. The irrigation water was brought by flume. The prunes were raised for drying. This ranch was near Wilderville.
In 1898 they moved to Grants Pass. They lived in a place about 1/4 mile down stream from the bridge on what he recalled was Jackson Street. He recalls his father working in the Sugar Pine Mill in Grants Pass at some time but didn't remember the exact time. Charles cut off a finger while working there. He vividly remembered seeing the ox teams used to drag the logs for the mill and that they were a three yoke team of six oxen.
It was at this time that Charles David then went to work for the Oregon Water Power Company. Charles David worked at the Power House and according to his son Benjamin was plant Foreman. Charles David was then approached by the plant owner, superintendent, or manager who was named Brownley and was then asked to accept a new position for the power company in Winchester.
The family then remained in Winchester until about 1905 when they moved to Portland. Benjamin Walter recalls fishing in the Rogue river while the family was in Grants Pass.
He attended School for one year in grants Pass and three years in Winchester. During these very early years Benjamin Walter remembered working driving a horse pulling a clod smasher (board) that he would ride. For this he received .50 cents a day. This certainly was not just an 8 hour day.
Military Information: PFC, US ARMY
Benjamin Walter Cooley was in the Home Guard during WW1 and served from May of 1918 into January of 1919.
His first stop in California was at Fort McDowell in San Francisco. This was on an island in the San Francisco Bay.
Within a few days he was sent to The Presidio of Monterey at Monterey, California.
He served there until December 10, 1918.
From Monterey he was then sent to Camp Kearney (now Miramar), located about 11 miles north of San Diego.
There he was processed for discharge January 1919.
By Benjamin M. Cooley
1891:
Birth, March 10, 1891, Chadron, Dawes Co., Nebraska.
Ben traveled from Nebraska to Oregon with his father, mother and grandparents. He seemed to have memories of this trip although it is more likely that things were told to him concerning the trip. He also had memories of where the family settled and how they lived and worked. Although once again, even though he recalled many events and situations, the earliest memories were implanted by his father and mother. It is certain that he remembered his grandfather Benjamin Spencer and his grandmother Sarah. In 1968 Ben made an oral family history recording for his son Benjamin Merle Cooley. This recording was done just a few months before his death on December 27, 1968.
Some notes from the oral history:
" In 1891during the latter part of the year, the family traveled by train from Nebraska. Benjamin traveled with his wife, Sarah, his son Charles David and his wife Flora and their infant son Benjamin Walter Cooley.
Benjamin and Charles brought live stock with them which they tended in the cattle cars on the train.
He was known to be a good carpenter and made household furniture for the family in his workshop when they had settled in the community of New Hope in Southern Oregon.
About 1896 Benjamin Spencer took his wife Sarah, his son Charles David and his grandson his grandson for a short time to a location on Deer Creek, in the Illinois Valley, to search for gold. There were several locations in the Illinois Valley where gold was found but apparently Benjamin Spencer did not have this sort of luck.
Many of Benjamin's hand tools were passed down to Charles and he in turn passed them along to his sons."
His memories also include this additional information that was kept in a note by his son Benjamin Merle Cooley.
The family traveled by train to Portland. They first made a stop in Silverton and then traveled on south to Ashland. They brought with them some livestock which Charles David and Benjamin Spencer cared for in the stock car. In Ashland they stayed for a short while in a house near the railroad depot and Charles David and probably Benjamin Spencer as well cut wood into fire lengths for the railroad. Within a few months they traveled to New Hope (about 10 miles south of Grants Pass) where they settled on a homestead of 160 acres. They built a home and barn. Benjamin Spencer had a shop in the upper part of the barn with access by a stairway rather than a ladder. Grandma Sarah had ducks. The land had a creek.
During the year of 1896 his grandfather decided he wanted to look for gold so he went with his wife and Grandson to a cabin on Deer Creek. The exact location is not known but there were several places where gold was panned from Deer Creek.
In 1897 they moved to a place he called the Miller ranch where his father Charles David became foreman. The ranch was mostly prune orchards and hops. The irrigation water was brought by flume. The prunes were raised for drying. This ranch was near Wilderville.
In 1898 they moved to Grants Pass. They lived in a place about 1/4 mile down stream from the bridge on what he recalled was Jackson Street. He recalls his father working in the Sugar Pine Mill in Grants Pass at some time but didn't remember the exact time. Charles cut off a finger while working there. He vividly remembered seeing the ox teams used to drag the logs for the mill and that they were a three yoke team of six oxen.
It was at this time that Charles David then went to work for the Oregon Water Power Company. Charles David worked at the Power House and according to his son Benjamin was plant Foreman. Charles David was then approached by the plant owner, superintendent, or manager who was named Brownley and was then asked to accept a new position for the power company in Winchester.
The family then remained in Winchester until about 1905 when they moved to Portland. Benjamin Walter recalls fishing in the Rogue river while the family was in Grants Pass.
He attended School for one year in grants Pass and three years in Winchester. During these very early years Benjamin Walter remembered working driving a horse pulling a clod smasher (board) that he would ride. For this he received .50 cents a day. This certainly was not just an 8 hour day.
Military Information: PFC, US ARMY
Ben and Gena were married April 27, 1918.
Benjamin Walter Cooley was in the Home Guard during WW1 and served from May of 1918 into January of 1919.
His first stop in California was at Fort McDowell in San Francisco. This was on an island in the San Francisco Bay.
Within a few days he was sent to The Presidio of Monterey at Monterey, California.
He served there until December 10, 1918.
From Monterey he was then sent to Camp Kearney (now Miramar), located about 11 miles north of San Diego.
There he was processed for discharge January 1919.
By Benjamin M. Cooley
1891:
Birth, March 10, 1891, Chadron, Dawes Co., Nebraska.
Ben traveled from Nebraska to Oregon with his father, mother and grandparents. He seemed to have memories of this trip although it is more likely that things were told to him concerning the trip. He also had memories of where the family settled and how they lived and worked. Although once again, even though he recalled many events and situations, the earliest memories were implanted by his father and mother. It is certain that he remembered his grandfather Benjamin Spencer and his grandmother Sarah. In 1968 Ben made an oral family history recording for his son Benjamin Merle Cooley. This recording was done just a few months before his death on December 27, 1968.
Some notes from the oral history:
" In 1891during the latter part of the year, the family traveled by train from Nebraska. Benjamin traveled with his wife, Sarah, his son Charles David and his wife Flora and their infant son Benjamin Walter Cooley.
Benjamin and Charles brought live stock with them which they tended in the cattle cars on the train.
He was known to be a good carpenter and made household furniture for the family in his workshop when they had settled in the community of New Hope in Southern Oregon.
About 1896 Benjamin Spencer took his wife Sarah, his son Charles David and his grandson his grandson for a short time to a location on Deer Creek, in the Illinois Valley, to search for gold. There were several locations in the Illinois Valley where gold was found but apparently Benjamin Spencer did not have this sort of luck.
Many of Benjamin's hand tools were passed down to Charles and he in turn passed them along to his sons."
His memories also include this additional information that was kept in a note by his son Benjamin Merle Cooley.
The family traveled by train to Portland. They first made a stop in Silverton and then traveled on south to Ashland. They brought with them some livestock which Charles David and Benjamin Spencer cared for in the stock car. In Ashland they stayed for a short while in a house near the railroad depot and Charles David and probably Benjamin Spencer as well cut wood into fire lengths for the railroad. Within a few months they traveled to New Hope (about 10 miles south of Grants Pass) where they settled on a homestead of 160 acres. They built a home and barn. Benjamin Spencer had a shop in the upper part of the barn with access by a stairway rather than a ladder. Grandma Sarah had ducks. The land had a creek.
During the year of 1896 his grandfather decided he wanted to look for gold so he went with his wife and Grandson to a cabin on Deer Creek. The exact location is not known but there were several places where gold was panned from Deer Creek.
In 1897 they moved to a place he called the Miller ranch where his father Charles David became foreman. The ranch was mostly prune orchards and hops. The irrigation water was brought by flume. The prunes were raised for drying. This ranch was near Wilderville.
In 1898 they moved to Grants Pass. They lived in a place about 1/4 mile down stream from the bridge on what he recalled was Jackson Street. He recalls his father working in the Sugar Pine Mill in Grants Pass at some time but didn't remember the exact time. Charles cut off a finger while working there. He vividly remembered seeing the ox teams used to drag the logs for the mill and that they were a three yoke team of six oxen.
It was at this time that Charles David then went to work for the Oregon Water Power Company. Charles David worked at the Power House and according to his son Benjamin was plant Foreman. Charles David was then approached by the plant owner, superintendent, or manager who was named Brownley and was then asked to accept a new position for the power company in Winchester.
The family then remained in Winchester until about 1905 when they moved to Portland. Benjamin Walter recalls fishing in the Rogue river while the family was in Grants Pass.
He attended School for one year in grants Pass and three years in Winchester. During these very early years Benjamin Walter remembered working driving a horse pulling a clod smasher (board) that he would ride. For this he received .50 cents a day. This certainly was not just an 8 hour day.
Military Information: PFC, US ARMY
Benjamin Walter Cooley was in the Home Guard during WW1 and served from May of 1918 into January of 1919.
His first stop in California was at Fort McDowell in San Francisco. This was on an island in the San Francisco Bay.
Within a few days he was sent to The Presidio of Monterey at Monterey, California.
He served there until December 10, 1918.
From Monterey he was then sent to Camp Kearney (now Miramar), located about 11 miles north of San Diego.
There he was processed for discharge January 1919.
By Benjamin M. Cooley
1891:
Birth, March 10, 1891, Chadron, Dawes Co., Nebraska.
Ben traveled from Nebraska to Oregon with his father, mother and grandparents. He seemed to have memories of this trip although it is more likely that things were told to him concerning the trip. He also had memories of where the family settled and how they lived and worked. Although once again, even though he recalled many events and situations, the earliest memories were implanted by his father and mother. It is certain that he remembered his grandfather Benjamin Spencer and his grandmother Sarah. In 1968 Ben made an oral family history recording for his son Benjamin Merle Cooley. This recording was done just a few months before his death on December 27, 1968.
Some notes from the oral history:
" In 1891during the latter part of the year, the family traveled by train from Nebraska. Benjamin traveled with his wife, Sarah, his son Charles David and his wife Flora and their infant son Benjamin Walter Cooley.
Benjamin and Charles brought live stock with them which they tended in the cattle cars on the train.
He was known to be a good carpenter and made household furniture for the family in his workshop when they had settled in the community of New Hope in Southern Oregon.
About 1896 Benjamin Spencer took his wife Sarah, his son Charles David and his grandson his grandson for a short time to a location on Deer Creek, in the Illinois Valley, to search for gold. There were several locations in the Illinois Valley where gold was found but apparently Benjamin Spencer did not have this sort of luck.
Many of Benjamin's hand tools were passed down to Charles and he in turn passed them along to his sons."
His memories also include this additional information that was kept in a note by his son Benjamin Merle Cooley.
The family traveled by train to Portland. They first made a stop in Silverton and then traveled on south to Ashland. They brought with them some livestock which Charles David and Benjamin Spencer cared for in the stock car. In Ashland they stayed for a short while in a house near the railroad depot and Charles David and probably Benjamin Spencer as well cut wood into fire lengths for the railroad. Within a few months they traveled to New Hope (about 10 miles south of Grants Pass) where they settled on a homestead of 160 acres. They built a home and barn. Benjamin Spencer had a shop in the upper part of the barn with access by a stairway rather than a ladder. Grandma Sarah had ducks. The land had a creek.
During the year of 1896 his grandfather decided he wanted to look for gold so he went with his wife and Grandson to a cabin on Deer Creek. The exact location is not known but there were several places where gold was panned from Deer Creek.
In 1897 they moved to a place he called the Miller ranch where his father Charles David became foreman. The ranch was mostly prune orchards and hops. The irrigation water was brought by flume. The prunes were raised for drying. This ranch was near Wilderville.
In 1898 they moved to Grants Pass. They lived in a place about 1/4 mile down stream from the bridge on what he recalled was Jackson Street. He recalls his father working in the Sugar Pine Mill in Grants Pass at some time but didn't remember the exact time. Charles cut off a finger while working there. He vividly remembered seeing the ox teams used to drag the logs for the mill and that they were a three yoke team of six oxen.
It was at this time that Charles David then went to work for the Oregon Water Power Company. Charles David worked at the Power House and according to his son Benjamin was plant Foreman. Charles David was then approached by the plant owner, superintendent, or manager who was named Brownley and was then asked to accept a new position for the power company in Winchester.
The family then remained in Winchester until about 1905 when they moved to Portland. Benjamin Walter recalls fishing in the Rogue river while the family was in Grants Pass.
He attended School for one year in grants Pass and three years in Winchester. During these very early years Benjamin Walter remembered working driving a horse pulling a clod smasher (board) that he would ride. For this he received .50 cents a day. This certainly was not just an 8 hour day.
Military Information: PFC, US ARMY
Inscription
A3022
Benjamin W Cooley
March 10 1891 DEC 27 1968
PFC CO C25 BN US GUARD
Gena L
His Wife
May 10 1889 Sep 1982
Family Members
Siblings
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