Pioneer NW Church History

Marker for Eugene C. Sanderson

2007-09-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

The grave marker for Mr. Sanderson has proven elusive. At first, it seemed that he was buried in Southern California. Then records pointed to Eugene, Oregon. But he wasn't buried in the Pioneer Cemetery or the Mulkey Cemetery. Where was he? Finally evidence pointed to the Masonic Cemetery.

We went to the location, but the entire cemetery was overgrown with weeds with special emphasis on Poison Oak. We backed off and put a note in his profile in our history section.

After some years, Lynn Scates Adams, granddaughter of Erskine Skates, Sr., volunteered to search. She located the elusive marker and now the world can see "the rest of the story." Link.

Canadian Photos

2006-09-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

Our thanks to Jacqueline Hayward of Calgary for getting the headstone shots of John Jenkins. Mr. Jenkins had originated in Canada, attended Bethany College in West Virginia and had done much church planting in Oregon. His last U.S. church was the Montavilla Church in Portland. His markers can be seen on this link.

Abbott Levi Todd

2006-08-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

Have enjoyed reviewing Pioneer History - to about 1900, Churches of Christ & Christian Churches in the Pacific Northwest. My wife's great, great grandfather, Rev. Abbott Levi James Todd, was ordained in 1855 and became a Circuit Riding Oregon Preacher in Douglas and Coos Counties, Oregon.

As a family genealogist was thrilled to discover all the detail plus photos of he and his wife, Angeline. Thank you ever so much for including historic information on your wonderful web site including this special ancestor of my wife.

Best regards from Coos Bay, Oregon,

Howard O'Brien

Is It Accidental?

2006-07-21T21:28:00.000-07:00

I was talking with veteran preacher Dick Halstead recently. He mentioned having lived at Mill City, Oregon. A couple of questions put to him opened the door to another piece of history.

He revealed that the local Presbyterian Church building had one time belonged to the Church of Christ. That was long before the Church of Christ built in 1927.

Armed with that clue, I located a photo of the old building at the local historical society. Another mystery has been solved and now we know where the pre-1900 Church of Christ settled in Mill City, Oregon.

Link: http://ncbible.org/nwh/OrLinnNorth.html#millcity

Teaching Children is Important

2006-07-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

Jan Redelsperger writes that her ancestors were part of the original Christian Church at Kelso, Washington. She still follows the faith, being the wife of a Church of Christ preacher. It is clear that some parents obeyed the Lord in teaching their children and grandchildren.

Supplina Hamilton has a Friend.

2006-06-24T12:00:00.000-07:00

Among the pace-setters in pioneer family research is Glen Hamilton of Washington State. He has supplied us with fine and factual information about his pioneer preaching ancestor Supplina Hamilton. We have been able to clear out erroneous data and tune up his profile. Glen can be reached at his website: http://www.myhamiltonfamily.org/.

Mac Waller Connection

2006-06-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

We have just heard from a nephew of pioneer preacher Mac Waller, Steve Garvin of Asheville, NC. He writes, "I enjoyed immensely the article you wrote . . . . Mac's brother, George Townsend Waller, is my great-great-grandfather on my mother's side."