Harney County
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William C. Byrd
June 14, 1914; Oregonian, p 7
"William C. Byrd Dies"
Burns, Or., June 13
William C. Byrd, an early
settler of Harney County, and of burns, died during Tuesday night, aged 71
years. He has been in feeble health for some time, but his death was not
expected. His son-in-law went to his room Tuesday night about 11 o'clock, fixed
his pillow and composed him for sleep and found his next morning in exactly the
same position, dead.
He was a Lieutenant under General Stonewall Jackson. The
family came to Harney County, settling near Burns in 1883. In 1889 he purchased
the Times-Herald, which he edited some years and turned over to his son, Julian
C., who is still its manager. His oldest son, Charles A., is manager of the
Harney County News, and another son, Ambrose M., is manager of the Juntura
Times. One daughter is the wife of F. A. Cole, of Vale, and another is the wife
of Attorney Charles H. Leonard, of Burns. His wife died here six years ago.
He was County superintendent of Schools here four years and was the
candidate of his party for County judge and for the Legislature. He held the
office of Justice of the Peace several years, also City Recorder, and was six
years on the Burns School Board. Besides his children, he leaves several
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
June 28, 1914; Oregonian, p 7
(photo)
"Harney Pioneer Leaves 5 Great-Grandchildren"
Burns, Or., June 27
William C. Byrd, who died here recently, was a well-known pioneer. Besides
children and grandchildren who survive him there are five great-grandchildren,
two of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Dalton, two of Mrs. and Mrs. Arthur
Turner and one of Mr. and Mrs. Dot Davis.
A. A. Cowing
Feb. 3, 1908; Oregonian, p 5
Burns, Or., Feb. 2
A.
A. Cowing, an old resident of Harney County, died at his home on Praither Creek,
eight miles east of Burns, January 30, after an illness of several weeks. Mr.
Cowing was the first Sheriff of Harney County, appointed by Governor Pennoyer in
1889, when this county was cut off from Grant, and he was elected to succeed
himself the next year. During President Cleveland's second term Mr. Cowing
served as receiver of public moneys at the land office here, and since that time
he has been engaged in farming and fruit-raising.
Mr. Cowing was 58 years
old and was a native of England, coming to America quite young and to Harney
County from Wisconsin about 25 years ago. He was a man of marked ability and
when Sheriff had the reputation of making the best returns of any Sheriff in the
state. He has suffered from stomach and dropsical troubles for several years. He
leaves a wife and three children.
Peter French
Dec. 28, 1897; Oregonian, p 3
"Peter French Dead"
Baker
City, Or., Dec. 27
A telephone message to the Democrat from Canyon City
says Peter French, a prominent cattleman and landowner of Harney county, was
killed by a man named Oliver. It is reported that the deed was a cold-blooded
murder. The victim was shot in the back of the head, the bullet coming out
between the eyes. A land dispute is said to have been the cause of the trouble.
Dec. 29, 1897; Oregonian, p 1
Winnemucca, Nev., Dec. 28
Additional
particulars were brought here by messenger of the murder of Peter French, the
largest landowner and cattle-owner in Eastern Oregon, who was shot on his ranch
in Harney county, 225 miles north of here, last Saturday. David Crow is the
messenger who arrived here this afternoon with the news, having been in the
saddle 48 hours, with nine changes of horses.
Crow left the scene
immediately after the homicide. He says French and a party of vaqueros had
rounded up a band of cattle and were about to drive them into a field on his
ranch. French went ahead on horseback to open the gate, and, having done so,
started back to the cattle. A man on horseback intercepted him, and they engaged
in a dispute lasting several minutes. French started to ride away, but got only
a few feet when the other drew a pistol and shot him. French fell to the ground
with a bullet in his brain. The murderer rode away, and French's men, being
unarmed, made no attempt to capture him.
Notice was at once sent to the
officers at Burns, 46 miles from the scene of the tragedy. French's men were too
far away at the time of the killing to recognize the murderer, but it is thought
he is one of a band of squatters who have been annoying French, and against whom
he had a number of lawsuits pending.
French had many enemies in the
section where he lived, and had often expressed the belief that he would be
murdered some day. He was in the habit of going armed, but was without a weapon
when shot down.
Heppner, Or., Dec. 28
The only particulars of the
killing of Peter French obtainable here, is the report given to Rudio, of Long
Creek, by the mail carrier, as the telephone wire is down between Long Creek and
Canyon City. The report given by the mail carrier was that John Oliver shot
Peter French through the head, killing him instantly, the ball coming out over
the right eye. The trouble arose over some land. The killing took place at what
is called the Sod house, in Harney county.
Baker City, Or., Dec. 28
News has been received from Harney county, saying that Oliver, the slayer of
Peter French, is in the hands of an officer, and on his way to Burns, the county
seat. French's body will be shipped to Red Bluff, Cal., for burial, at the home
of the mother of the deceased, a brother, Bert French, accompanying it.
"Career of Activity"
Peter French was born and raised near Red Bluff, Tehama
county, Cal. His father was a farmer in good circumstances, who expected his son
to follow the same vocation, but the quiet life of a farmer was not at all to
the liking of the son. Peter French ran away from home to start out in life on
his own hook, and through his energy and ability, succeeded in making a name for
himself.
In 1873 Dr. Hugh Glenn, of Jacinto, Cal., employed young French
as his agent in the management of his extensive stock ranch located in what was
then Grant, but is now Harney county, Or. Dr. Glenn purchased the ranch from
Senator Heart, of California, and, having large landed interests in Colusa
county, he picked out Peter French as his representative to manage his property
in Oregon. Within a few years French had become a partner of Dr. Glenn, and
after the death of the latter, who was shot by one of his employes, who went to
the penitentiary for manslaughter, French organized the corporation known as the
French-Glenn Livestock Company, controlling between 80,000 and 100,000 acres of
land, and 30,000 head of cattle and 3000 horses and mules that have advanced
greatly in value by the rise of prices during the past few months. The land is
so situated as to control the waterways and points of vantage of that whole
country, and placing the practical ownership of many square miles in the hands
of the company, for range is worthless unless stock may have access to water
from it. There are 500 miles of wire fence on the ranges of the French-Glenn
company. The company's range extends from Blitzen river to Harney lake. French
held three-fifths of the capital stock of the corporation, which made him the
largest livestock owner in Oregon. His estate is estimated to be worth
$3,000,000. French was interested in banking and general ranching as well as
stock-raising.
During the Bannock Indian war of 1878, the buildings on
the ranches were burned by marauding savages, and the men living on what are
known as the Diamond and P ranches were driven to the mountains, and finally
sought safety at old Camp Harney until the war was over. In one of the
encounters with Indians a horse was shot under French, and some of his
companions were killed.
Peter French was of a genial, generous nature,
but a man extremely tenacious of his own rights. He was about 48 years of age,
was small of stature, but of tremendous energy, and, though a millionaire, he
persisted in doing common labor about his place. He married a daughter of his
partner, Dr. Glenn, but was divorce from her some years ago, and she is now
living in Oakland, Cal. They have one son, a boy of about 17, who is now in
California, also, and who will inherit the estate.
The reason that French
had so many enemies is said to be found in his dictatorial manner, and in the
frequent and bitter disputes with settlers over land claims. Some years ago the
government surveyors ran a meander line along the south shore of Malheur lake.
Later, the lake receded, or from other causes, it became necessary to run a
second line nearer the water. French had secured possession of the water front
according to the first survey, and claimed riparian rights, but settlers took
possession of some of the strip between the two line sand the matter was fought
out in the courts. Much bad blood was engendered, and several times French was
the target for some opponent's rifle ball.
Commissioner Sparks, of the
general and office, during the first Cleveland administration, permitted
settlers to file and enter upon the disputed swamp lands and occupy the same
until the right of ownership was definitely settled. Such settlement was delayed
for years. Meantime, the settlers, thinking they would ultimately gain the land,
made many permanent improvements. When the order was finally promulgated,
declaring the disputed territory to be swamp land, the settlers were indignant,
and naturally displayed ill-feeling toward the man who had been declared the
rightful owner of the property. Oliver, the man who is reported to have killed
French, owns a place in the center of one of the latter's fields, and there has
been an acrimonious dispute over the question of a right of way. There are now
15 law cases on the court docket of Harney county, in which the French-Glenn
company are defendants. These cases have grown out of land disputes. Friends of
Peter French, in Portland, are united in saying he was as brave as a lion, a man
who was absolutely fearless, and his killing must have been a cold-blooded
murder.
Jan. 2, 1898; Oregonian, p 11
"It Was Deliberate"
The
body of Peter French, manager of the French-Glenn Livestock Company, murdered on
December 26, by Edward Oliver, arrived in Portland yesterday morning, en route
to Red Bluff, Cal, for burial.
Burt French, a brother of the murdered
man, is in charge of the body, and passed yesterday at the Perkins. He, with
several others, was a witness to the killing of his bother, and his story fully
confirms the first report that Peter French was the victim of a cowardly murder.
"It was not a matter of a land dispute, as stated in the papers," said Burt
French, "Oliver lives on a ranch below what is known as the 'Sodhouse' ranch,
and he had been repeatedly warned to keep off the company land. My brother had
just returned to Chicago, after delivering 32 carloads of beef cattle, and he,
with myself and several others, were on the way from the Diamond to the 'P' or
home ranch, when the shooting occurred. While on our way on horseback, we met
Oliver, also mounted, and Peter said to him, "I have cautioned you to keep off
my land," My brother then stepped toward me, remarking to Oliver, "I'll drive
you off."
"Oliver immediately went for his gun and pulled it out. He
pulled the trigger, but it was a misfire, and the sound of the hammer striking
the cartridge caused Peter to turn around in his saddle. As he did so Oliver
fired, and the bullet from his gun struck my brother in the left temple and came
out at the back of his head. Not one of us was armed. Peter had only been back a
couple of days, and was on his way to the home ranch to arrange for the foreman
to take a lay-off . When Oliver saw the effect of his shot he rode rapidly away.
Those who witnessed the murder were entirely helpless, and when my brother fell
our first attention was to him.
"He was shot down in cold blood. Oliver
had no reason to be on land he was. He could have taken the road, but it seems
he was there for a purpose. After the sheriff had taken him in custody he said:
"I would do the same thing over again, if I had a chance." I don not know what
the result will be. I am in hopes that Oliver will be tried outside of Harney
county, in Baker or Grant, as in such case there is a better chance for the law
to take its just course. There is no question as to the murder. My brother was
shot down in the presence of myself, James Otage, Dan Clark and others. The body
will be taken to Red Bluff, Cal., and buried alongside of his father and mother.
We have a sister living there, and she and I are all that are left of the
family."
The death of Peter French will in no wise interfere with the
business of the corporation of which he was the president and manager. Some time
ago he transferred all his personal interests in the same to the company. The
company is now in a flourishing condition, having about 8000 head of cattle on
hand. The property is covered by a mortgage of $120,000, but with the landed
possessions and personal property on hand, this will in no wise interfere with
the regular conduct of its business, that never has been more prospectively
prosperous than now.
The body of Peter French, on its arrival in Baker
City, was embalmed, and many of the friends of the dead cattle king took the
opportunity to look upon his face for the last time.
Peter F. Stenger
Aug. 30, 1896; Oregonian, p 6
"Funeral of Peter F.
Stenger"
Burns, Or., Aug. 29
The funeral of Peter F. Stenger, who died
Monday night of blood poisoning, took place yesterday, under the auspices of the
I.O.O.F. of Burns, of which lodge he was a charter member, the Rev. Mr. Jones
delivering a short discourse.
The deceased was 44 years of age. His
parents, Leonard and Elizabeth Stenger, emigrated from Peoria, Ill., in 1852,
and began a pioneer life in the dense forest just west of the present city of
Portland, where the deceased was born, subsequently removing and making a
permanent settlement at Canyonville, Douglas county, where young Stenger grew to
manhood. In 1874 he established himself as a rancher and stockraiser in the
Harney valley country, and amassed a large fortune. In 1884, with George
McGowan, he founded the town of Burns.
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