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Note: This letter is transcribed from a type written personal letter from Moses Votaw of Tacoma, WA to childhood friend O.A. Garretson on June 25, 1925. It is rich in the history of the Salem area, Jackson Township, in particular East Grove, a Quaker Meeting six miles southeast of Salem. It is transcribed as written, including punctuation and spelling. The Lincoln Pole Raising, early rural education and religion, pioneer customs, early pioneer families are just a few of the topics found in this fascinating recollection of childhood memories of Moses Votaw.

June 25, 1925

O.A. Garretson

Salem, Iowa

Dear Friend Owen:-

I have received in plain envelope, without anything to indicate the name of the sender, a historical paper published at Iowa City containing an article by yourself about the Lincoln Pole Raisings of the year 1860. Also the Mt. Pleasant News with a story of an old deed recently recorded, written, I take it by your son. The accuracy of both of these stories I am able to verify, almost to a letter, except the history of the old deed is entirely new to me, and, also, most interesting. I speak from direct knowledge, because I was there.

The old school house mentioned was built for a store combined with a residence and stood on the Burlington-Agency Road just west of the Cowgill farm, and on the southeast of a quarter section later bought by your father. The house was placed on low wooden wheels and drawn up the hill and to its school location a mile west by several yokes of oxen, and as I remember it, a team of mules or horses in the lead. Interesting it is to reflect upon the fact that here in this old building you and I, and many others laid the foundation for a wider knowledge of the world with life’s duties and responsibilities. And do you remember the unique seats with their “jackknife carved initials”? Like the house, the seats were second hand. When my father was school director he procured this furniture, consisting of combined seats and desks (many in one piece) of Salem Friends. They were built and used when a school was held in the little brick building just east of the old Whittier College building. (That little school by Friends may have been the nucleus from which grew the College. Who knows)

As to the Lincoln Pole Raisings, they were indeed times of enthusiasm. I attended both, and all interested me except the public speaking which was beyond my knowledge and capacity. Here I make the first buy of my life. I bought a large “barber pole” of candy. The price was five cents and it took all my money. I followed in the rear of the marching Wide-Awakes and as they surrounded the pole at its raising, I stood at a barely safe distance, for when one of them broke, it fell near me. I was like you, eight years old. The marching columns in uniform and the martial music gave me great inspiration. Even now I recall the names of some of the men who marched with the Wide-Awakes.

Now let me say Owen, that I appreciate the fact that you are doing your part to put into endurable type the history of those early days. Indeed few are left who can write it as you can write it. Our parents, especially your parents, were history makers and we may all well honor them by preserving their deeds.

As I went with my brother Henry to the Pole Raising and spent my first money, so I went with him to your house which was then the first Post Office which I ever knew. I believe however that Joseph Hoag was Post Master when its name was East Grove before the office was moved to your house. I have heard my parents tell of Joseph Hoag bringing the letters to meeting to the Friends, carrying them in his tall Quaker hat.

Owen do you remember the Friends Meeting House that stood on the south-east corner of Father’s farm? I remember it. Here was the first school that I ever attended. It was taught by Mary Stephens, who later married a man by the name of Hobson, late in life settled with her husband and two sons in Newburg, Oregon, where she died after a long and useful life.

I do not know how old I was when I went to this my first school held in Friends Meeting House on my Father’s farm but I doubt if I was as much as five years old. I had a little book to learn in, but could not read and I believe I did not know all of my letters.

It must have been soon after this that the house was burned down one night after a spelling school had been held in it. George Tyner was awakened and saw the fire, but I do not know if any one else saw it. Tyner surely had not been a resident there long for I recall that in those early days it was all open prairie from your west line to the west till you came to the road which was a straight line from Pilot Grove to Salem. The south sixty acres of our farm was unfenced and it was open prairie as far south as I could see where the grass grew tall and the “Rosum” weeds taller.

In this connection I might say that brother Henry was born in a log cabin which neither of us remembers. It stood 120 rods north of the “Big road” and about 20 rods west of the meridian line that runs thru the middle of our old farm.

Speaking further about the East Grove Meeting House, I have to say that it too was moved from where it was first built, on the land owned by your father, or on the Mosher place to the place where it burned down, the latter being just a quarter of a mile form the corner on which stood our old second hand Glendale school house.

The people of Glendale (which name I believe succeeds East Grove) were a history making-making people. After the Friends lost their Meeting house, I recall attending services in the house of Thomas Hoag, Hulda Hoag being a minister. I believe it was also held elsewhere, perhaps in the schoolhouse. I am confident that here is where I attended my first Sunday schools. Previous to this Friends held no Sunday schools at all. This meeting, however, must have soon been “laid down” for I recall that our family all went to meeting six or seven miles away to New Garden, the site of which place I suspect has nothing left to mark it except the Friends old burying ground. You probably know it well, as it is near the Jacob griffin farm on the West Point road. Mother was clerk of the business meeting of the women’s part, and the way we went was in this wise:- We had a one-horse buggy drawn by Nell in not very fancy harness. Nell was able to trot most of the way but not very fast. I remember seeing Bunk, her colt pace by her side, he being the first pacer that I ever knew.

The buggy had only one seat, but it held us all. Father and Mother occupied that seat with either Rachel or Calvin between, while the one not in the seat sat on the floor in front. Henry and I rode backwards in the rear of the buggy with our legs hanging out. Mother carried Luther as a babe in her arms.

You might be interested further to know that I was in Portland recently where I attended Oregon Yearly Meeting. While there I met several old-time friends. I spent considerable time with Wash. Bartlett and his wife in their home. Also met Link and wife. Both families seem to be getting along well. I did not see any of the children of John and Laura though I have met them at other times. I believe are all well except that Bon has not recovered.

About a year I heard that Enon McCracken and Anna had left Cuba and settled in Scotts Hills about 50 miles south east of Portland, but what I learned was very meager. This is the community where several of Joseph Frazier’s children located after they left Kansas about 25 years ago. I met Anna at the meeting with a son and daughter. She told me that Enos had poor health in Cuba and continued to decline till death came several months ago. Ann herself has quite poor health. I also met Anna’s sister Minnie who married a man by the name of White. He is a preacher, and contrary to the rules seems to be quite thrifty and they own a home in Portland as well as a prune orchard at Scotts Mills. I called on Clara Hicks Cammack, who by the favor of a thrifty son, lives in her houses quite comfortably, though her health is not real good. I also called on Alice Hampton Clark whose husband Al. Clark of Pilot Grove died on the first of last April. I year or two ago I met a son and two daughter of Enos Neal, who were then living in Portland, I met Arthur McMelon and his family. Did not see Anslem Butler. Was told that Emery came out and was at the funeral of Anslem’s wife. Ann Knight—Elwood’s sister is a widow, is at a baby home as one of its officers in Portland.

Amanda Johnson Sherman who at one time lived in the same house that Anna Knight lived in (I mean the McMelen place near you), died about six months ago. She had one childe, a daughter who was counted as a superior girl, but did not live to be 20. Mr. Sherman is a man with fine business ability, and Christian character as well.

During the last two years I met other old-time friends of whom I would like to speak. Among these I might say that last August took dinner with B.J. and his wife Bell Cook Miles at their home in South Salem, Ore.

Benjamin F. Bogue, of Bogue Creek fame, brother of Joe Bogue deceased, lives with his wife, a daughter of Thos. Nicholson, only a few blocks from where I write this letter.

Sister-in-law Anna is in fair health only. Her children doing well. Bell and Luther are in fair health, the latter lives at Puyallup.

Sister Rachel is at Whittier Cal. in not very good health.

Charley and Laura Cowgill (Milleson) are in Southern Cal. I have been told that Charlie’s wife is postmistress of an office where they live. Levi Gregory is still pastor of a church at the same place in Oakland, Cal.

With this I close, sincerely, and with many thanks for publications.

Moses Votaw