Newsletter and Journal of the Yamhill County Historical Society

The West Side FEBRUARY 2016

Volume 48, Issue 2

The Yamhill County Historical Society is a nonprofit educational and public service corporation established to protect, preserve and share the history and heritage of Yamhill County

Date: FEBRUARY 14, 2016

Time: 1:30 pm Potluck, 2:30 pm Program

Program: Oregon Statehood by Sarah Miller

Location: Heritage Center, Hwy 18 & Durham Lane, McMinnville

NOTICE: FEBRUARY MEETING and Potluck

Pinkertons 1, 6, 10

Pioneer Days 1, 7

Oregon’s 157th Celebration

4

SWCD Plant Sale 4

Agriculture in Art 4

Calendar of Events 5

Benjamin Bonneville 8

Farm Fest 9

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

ON THE WEB: ♦ Visit our Website now at

yamhillcountyhistory.org

♦ Join our Facebook Group yamhillcountyhistory.org/fb

♦ Email us at info@yamhillcountyhistory.org

Continued on Page 7

Continued on Page 6

Long before there was a Federal Bureau of Investigation, there was the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. Founded in the early 1850s by Scottish immigrant Allan Pinkerton, the “Pinkertons” were the nation’s first and most prominent private police force. They’re best known for hunting down Old West outlaws and train robbers, but they also worked as presidential security, intelligence operatives and—most controversially—as management muscle during labor strikes. Check out 10 little-known facts about the detective agency that helped usher in the modern era of law enforcement. 1. I T S F O U N D E R

B E C A M E A D E T E C T I V E B Y ACCIDENT.

In 1842, Allan Pinkerton immigrated to the Chicago area and opened a cooperage, or barrel-making business. His detective career began just five years later, when he stumbled upon a band of counterfeiters while scrounging for lumber on an island in the Fox River. The Scotsman conducted informal surveillance on the gang, and was hailed as a local hero after he helped police make arrests. “The affair was in everybody’s mouth,” he later wrote, “and I suddenly found myself called upon from every quarter to undertake matters requiring detective skill.” Pinkerton soon won a gig as a small town sheriff. He went on to work as Chicago’s first police detective and as an agent for the U.S. Post Office. Around 1850, he opened

the private investigation firm that became the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. 2. THE PINKERTONS

INSPIRED THE TERM “PRIVATE EYE.”

The Pinkerton agency first made its name in the late 1850s for hunting down outlaws and

Allan Pinkerton

10 Things You May Not Know About the Pinkertons

I came to Oregon in 1847, arrived in Vancouver 20th of November of that year. There was no U.S. soldiers in Oregon at the time, no one but pioneer settlers and the Hudson Bay men which were British subjects. I got some work at Vancouver from that company that winter and (took) provisions as pay for my labor. I came to Portland next

spring and went to Yamhill, got a job of making rails for Jessie Henderson. The same spring of 1848 or summer went to South Yamhill with my father and family and Owen P. Turner, my brother-in-law. We all (took) Donation Land Claims between Deer Creek and South Yamhill River. In the spring of 1849 I was accompanied by my father,

James Toney, Ab Faulkner and Tom Graves. On the 3rd day of March we were in Portland. Here was met Governor Lane and three U.S. officers who were his escorts across the Plains. They came to San Francisco on horseback and (took) a boat for Portland. When they arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River the tide was so low they could not cross the Bar. They

Pioneer Days by W. L. Toney

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President’s Letter YCHS Members, As we start the New Year, the Board, at its first meeting, welcomed its two newly elected Directors, and officers were elected for this year. Your new Directors are Alex Botten and Charles Hillestad. The officers for 2016 are; Jo McIntyre returning as Secretary, Todd Holt as Treasurer, David Rucker as Vice-president, and myself as President. On behalf of the Board, a sincere thank you for the valuable service of retiring Director Matt Dunckel, and retiring officers Cliff Watts and Steve Leonard. Cliff remains as a Director and Steve is now our Past President Board member. With the elections behind us I would like to share some of my thoughts for the future; this year and beyond. Construction of the kitchen at the Heritage Center will conclude the essential facilities there and future construction will be mostly discretionary. As a result this will allow us to focus more on our mission to “protect, preserve and share the history of Yamhill County”. With the help of an updated Web Site we will be able to reach more people, create interest in using the extensive services of our Historical Research team, participating in the special activities and events, and visiting the museum displays. In case you missed it, the January newsletter lists some eight events shared between Lafayette and the Heritage Center with the possibility of at least one more to be added. Come, bring a friend and enjoy. The next event will be the Celebration of Oregon’s Birthday, on February 13th, 1 – 4 PM at the Miller Log Cabin and Poling Church. This has become a popular event. While not a YCHS

event as such, for the first time the Yamhill County Soil and Water Conservation District will be holding its annual native plant sale at the Heritage Center on February 4th and 5th. They decided to rent the Activities Building because it offers a much better facility over its previous venue. On the business side of things the Business Development Committee has drafted a new long range Strategic Plan to support our mission. The Plan will be divided into a series of shorter term (two year) plans to make implementation practical and achievable. The Strategic Plan places more emphasis on our mission and less so on capital projects. The plan was presented to the Board at this month’s meeting and for debate at the next meeting. When approved, the Plan will result in a shift of resources; a greater need for volunteers, a sustained funding program to support ongoing operating expenses and the possibly of hiring staff. With your help and support, and on behalf of the entire Board, I am looking forward to a very successful year for our Society. Please feel free to contact me at any time with comments and or suggestions. John Lewis YCHS President Phone: (503) 883-9588 Email: jjaklewis@aol.com Submitted: January 15, 2016

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS President John Lewis (2016-2018) 503-883-9588 jjaklewis@aol.com

Vice President Dave Rucker (2015-2017) 503-984-5799 drucker83@hotmail.com

Secretary Jo McIntyre (2014-2016) jomcintyre@onlinenw.com

Treasurer Todd Holt (2016-2018) 503-714-4042 holtfarms@comcast.net

DIRECTORS Alex Botten (2016-2018) Charles Hillestad (2016-2018) Cliff Watts (2015-2017) Cynthia Christensen (2014-2016) Ken Rogers (2015-2017) Rick Fieldhouse (2014-2016) Sarah Miller (2014-2016) Past President Steve Leonard (2016)

YCHS GENEALOGY Louise Heindl (503) 864-2308

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY Kim Courtin (503) 864-2308

Computer Coordinator: Tom Cattrall Corresponding Secretary: Nancy Thornton General Meetings Program Coordinator: Sarah Miller Heritage Brick & Flagpole Coordinator: Carolyn Meeker Heritage Center Facilities Operations Manager: Cliff Watts

Lafayette Operations: Membership Coordinator: Carlene Kadell Newsletter Editor: Tami Compton-Spears Outreach Coordinator: Cynthia Christensen Pioneer Days Coordinator: Terry Nelson

Volunteer Coordinator: Dave Rucker Volunteercoordinator@yamhillcountyhistory.org

COORDINATORS

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Election of Officers for 2016 President John Lewis, Vice President David Rucker,

Treasurer Todd Holt, and Secretary Jo McIntyre. Committee Reports: Activities & Events Committee—Cliff Watts reported for

Pam Watts that planning on all four regular Society events is continuing, some paid private functions are also scheduled in 2016. Sarah Miller reported on new events that are being planned for 2016; Oregon’s Birthday Celebration, Father’s Day and A Night at the Museum: Halloween Tour.

Education Committee—Cliff Watts reported that volunteers will go to the Portland Ag Show, the stage coach is going to Salem, and the covered wagon may appear at a Polk County function in Rickreall.

Heritage Center Development & Operations Committee—Cliff Watts reported that the Heritage Center is now 100% occupancy permitted, with a permit application filed in 2007. Current projects on site are the sawmill, steam engine and shop.

Lafayette Operations Committee—Todd Holt reported that the fire inspection has been completed in coordination with the State Fire Marshall.

Media Committee—Sarah Miller reported that she is researching possible grants for website development. The cost should not be more than about $5,000. A request for proposal is being developed. The Society Facebook group has grown to 115 members.

President’s Report: John Lewis extended thanks to Matt Dunckel, who retired

from the board, for his efforts on behalf of the Society and to Cliff Watts and Steve Leonard for serving as Board officers.

Past President Steve Leonard reported that a new member email list needs to be completed: ballots for First Federal S&L’s Community Giving program are due by February 29.

Secretary’s Report: Jo McIntyre reported that she is preparing new board books

and year-end e-record files. Rick Fieldhouse will assist. Treasurer’s Report: John Lewis provided the treasurer’s report which is on file in

the record book in Lafayette. Unfinished Business: Status of Murder Quilt Replica Custody—The society has

ownership of the replica quilt and will lend it out generously. Lafayette Re-Key Project—Lafayette has been re-keyed. The

responsibility of the keys had been delegated to Todd Holt. New Business: Society membership in local organizations. The society will

join the McMinnville Downtown Association and McMinnville Chamber of Commerce. Rick Fieldhouse will look into the Newberg Downtown Association.

2016—2022 Strategic Plan—Business Plan Committee recommended adoption of plan they have developed. Plan was presented to the Board, which will be discussed next month. Following Board action, it will be made available to the entire YCHS membership. John Lewis said the plan objectives are results oriented and actionable.

Respectfully submitted, Jo McIntyre, Secretary Submitted January 15, 2016

Board Meeting Recap ~ January 13, 2016 The following recap is a condensed version of not-yet approved minutes from the board meeting. All committee reports are filed in the record book with the minutes at the Lafayette Site.

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Accessions Lafayette: Ursula Doud Accessions/Restoration Heritage Center: Dave Cruickshank Activities and Events: Pam Watts Blacksmith Shop: Dale Turner Budget: John Lewis Business Plan & Grant Review: Steve Leonard

Education Committee: Cynthia Christensen Farm/Harvest Fest: Cliff and Pam Watts Handmade Holidays: Karen Sitton-Saxberg Heritage Center Development & Operations: Tony Meeker Insurance Committee: Tony Meeker Lafayette Operations : Todd Holt

Lafayette Pioneer Cemetery: Todd Holt Landscaping: Gloria Lutz—Heritage Center Media Committee: Sarah Miller Photographic Project: Tom Cattrall Sawmill: Jerry Tessman Secrets of the Past Tours: Karen Sitton-Saxberg

Steam Engine: Vern Yeager Treasures in the Attic: Pam Watts

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Yamhill SWCD Native Plant Sale at YCHS! We are happy to announce that the Yamhill Soil & Water Conservation District’s Annual Native Plant Sale will be held at the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center on Thursday and Friday, February 4 and 5, 2016 (from 9am—6pm) and Saturday, February 6 (from 9am-3pm)! They have outgrown their current location in their building’s parking lot and are looking forward to using our facility. We are excited because it’s a great use of the Activities Building and parking lot that weekend and should draw a number of folks to the Heritage Center who may not have visited before! We’ll put out the welcome mat and plan to have the museum open as much as possible during that time for tours and

promoting the many facets of the Yamhill County Historical Society. Go to www.yamhillswcd.org for more information on the sale, list of plants available, and an advance order form.

Celebrate Oregon’s 157th Birthday

Lafayette Museum, 605 Market St., Lafayette, OR

Saturday, February 13, 2016 1:00—4:00 pm

♦ Tour the historic Poling Memorial Church and the Miller Log Cabin ♦ View exhibits specially created to showcase life as Oregon became a state ♦ Free birthday cake and punch

Free entry with food donation for YCAP

For more information or to volunteer to help, call Karen Sitton-Saxberg (503) 434-2189

Call to Photographers for Farm Fest “Agriculture In Art” Show

Students, armature and professional artists are invited. All photography must be taken of subjects in Yamhill Valley and the surrounding area. For details and registration form, go to www.yamhillcountyhistory.org or contact Art Show Coordinator Steve Singleton at (971) 237-9314 or stv.sngltn@gmail.com

Farm Fest, to be held April 9, 2016, will include an “Agriculture in Art” photography contest in conjunction with the plowing competition and other activities. “Agriculture in Art” is a photography competition hosted by the Yamhill Valley Camera Club displaying photos in four categories:

1. People 2. Animals 3. Agriculture/Farm 4. Agriculture/Winery

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Yamhill Valley Heritage Center

11275 SW Durham Ln. McMinnville, OR 97128

Hours: Saturday 10-3

Contact: 503-435-9700

Historic Lafayette Museum

605 Market Street P.O. Box 484

Lafayette, OR 97127 Hours:

Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10-4

Or by appointment 503-864-2308

Upcoming Events

March 9—Board Meeting

March 13—General Meeting

April 9—Farm Fest April 10—General

Meeting April 13—Board

Meeting June 19—Father’s Day

at the Heritage Center June 25—Garden Party

at the Lafayette Museum

Event Locations

February 4, 5, 6—Yamhill SWCD Native Plant Sale—Heritage Center

February 10 —Board Meeting 5:30 pm—Lafayette Museum

February 13 — Oregon’s 157th Birthday Celebration 1-4:00 pm — Lafayette Museum

February 14 —General Meeting 1:30 pm—Heritage Center

FEBRUARY 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 4 5 6 Lafayette

Museum Open 10-4

Lafayette Museum

Open 10-4

Lafayette Museum

Open 10-4

Heritage Ctr. Open 10-3

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Lafayette

Museum Open 10-4

BOARD MEETING

5:30 pm

Lafayette Museum

Open 10-4

Oregon’s 157th

Birthday Celebration Lafayette Museum

1-4

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Valentine’s

Day

GENERAL MEETING

1:30 pm

Presidents’ Day

Lafayette Museum

Open 10-4

Lafayette Museum

Open 10-4

Lafayette Museum

Open 10-4

Blacksmith Shop Open

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Lafayette

Museum Open 10-4

Lafayette Museum

Open 10-4

Lafayette Museum

Open 10-4

Heritage Ctr. Open 10-3

28 29 HAPPY LEAP

DAY!

Vote for YCHS on First Federal’s Customer Ballot First Federal’s popular annual Customer Ballot Community Giving program is happening now, and the Yamhill County Historical Society is one of 76 non-profits listed on the ballot. Local non-profits will share in $40,000 based on First Federal customers’ votes, so cast your vote today! The deadline for return of ballots is February 29. If you are a First Federal customer and haven’t received your ballot, please stop in at any branch to obtain a ballot.

Plant Sale 9—6

Plant Sale 9—6

Plant Sale 9—3

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Continued on Page 10

Pinkertons Continued... 4. THE PINKERTONS MAY HAVE

FOILED AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Shortly before Abraham Lincoln’s first inauguration in March 1861, Allan Pinkerton traveled to Baltimore on a mission for a railroad company. The detective was investigating rumors that Southern sympathizers might sabotage the rail lines to Washington, D.C., but while gathering undercover intelligence, he learned that a secret cabal also planned to assassinate Lincoln—then on a whistle-stop tour—as he switched trains in Baltimore on his way to the capital. Pinkerton immediately tracked down the president-elect and informed him of the alleged plot. With the help of Kate Warne and several other agents, he then arranged for Lincoln to secretly board an overnight train and pass through Baltimore several hours ahead of his published schedule. Pinkerton operatives also cut telegraph lines to ensure the conspirators couldn’t communicate with one another, and Warne had Lincoln pose as her invalid brother to cover up his identity. The president-elect arrived safely in Washington the next morning, but his decision to skirt through Baltimore saw him lampooned and labeled a coward in the press. Meanwhile, none of the would-be assassins was ever arrested, leading some historians to conclude that the threat may have been exaggerated or even invented by Pinkerton.

providing private security for railroads. As the company’s profile grew, its iconic logo—a large, unblinking eye accompanied by the slogan “We Never Sleep” - gave rise to the term “private eye” as a nickname for detectives.

3. THEY HIRED THE NATION’S

FIRST FEMALE DETECTIVE. In 1856, 23-year-old widow Kate Warne walked into Pinkerton’s Chicago office and requested a job as a detective. Allan Pinkerton was hesitant to hire a female investigator, but he gave in after Warne convinced him that she could “worm out secrets in many places to which it was impossible for male detectives to gain access.” True to her word, Warne proved to be an expert at working undercover, once busting a thief by cozying up to his wife and convincing her to reveal the location of the loot. During another case, she got a suspect to feed her crucial information by disguising herself as a fortune teller. Pinkerton would later list Warne as one of the best investigators he ever hired. Following her death in 1868, he even had her buried in his family plot.

5. THEY SPIED FOR THE UNION ARMY DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

Allan Pinkerton was a staunch abolitionist and Union man, during the Civil War, he organized a secret intelligence service for General George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac. Operating under the name E.J. Allen, Pinkerton set up spy rings behind enemy lines and infiltrated southern sympathizer groups in the North. He even had agents interview escaped slaves to glean information about the Confederacy. The operation produced reams of intelligence, but not all of it proved accurate. A famous misstep came during 1862’s Peninsula Campaign, when Pinkerton reported that the Confederate forces around Richmond were more than twice their actual size. McClellan believed the faulty intel, and despite outnumbering the rebels by a large margin, he delayed his advance and made repeated calls for reinforcements. 6. THE PINKERTONS CREATED

ONE OF THE WORLD’S E A R L I E S T C R I M I N A L DATABASES.

One of the many ways the Pinkertons revolutionized law enforcement was with their so-called “Rogues’ Gallery,” a collection of mug shots and case histories that the agency used to research and keep track of wanted men. Along with noting suspects’ distinguishing marks and scars, agents also collected newspaper clippings and generated rap sheets detailing their previous arrests, known associates and

Pinkerton (left) with President Lincoln and Union Major General John McClernand.

Allan Pinkerton and his agents at Antietam, Maryland in October 1862. Credit: PhotoQuest/Getty Images

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Pioneer Days by W. L. Toney Concluded were six feet long and six to eight inches wide. The roof was covered with handmade cedar shingles. The floors were of lumber brought from Oregon City, there being a sawmill there, and was brought down the river on rafts. At that time there were plenty of fir and cedar trees, that were four feet in diameter, standing on front street. We returned from California mines in three months. In taking my claim in 1848, I bought it from Mr. Graves, that is his squatters right, for a pony. It had a rail fence on it which constituted the improvement. I plowed and sowed a crop in the spring 1849 and left it for my brother-in-law to care for it. I returned in three months and helped harvest the crop. In October went back to the mines again in company with Dan Barnes who was a cousin of mine and Tom Ramy. We again made a failure in mining as Tom Ramy (took) sick of fever. Dan Barnes took care of Ramy while I herded horses for my board and the privilege of keeping our horses in the herd, as there was danger of the Mexicans stealing them. We were gone 9 months but mined very little and made very little more than expenses.

From W. L. Toney’s handwritten little notebook filled with his reminiscences of early Oregon.

William Litton Toney Born : January 1827, Callaway City, Missouri

Death: August 1923, McMinnville, Oregon

hired some Indians to bring them to Portland in an Indian canoe. There was a crowd of people gathered at the Hotel which was run by a Mr. Lawnsdale who had prepared a flag and pole on the bank of the river to greet the first Territorial Governor. They were expecting to see the canoe coming up the river. But they were surprised when they saw the U.S. men walking up an Indian trail from the bank of the river. They had rowed up under the bank where they could not be seen. Some one shouted “There they are” and Mr. Lawnsdale ran to raise the flag. His feet slipped from under him and he lit on his back. The ground had a light sprinkle of snow. But Mr. Lawnsdale finally succeeded in raising the flag and greeting the Governor. They had been in the canoe all night without food or rest since they left Fort George (Astoria), so the first thing Governor Lane asked for was a bottle of brandy. As the Provincial Government was strictly prohibitional, it was some time before the brandy could be found. There being only about 20 houses in Portland at the time. But it was procured before breakfast could be served. After refreshments they started for Oregon City, the seat of government, in order to be there before the 4th of March which was the next day, that he might take office before the president, who appointed him, retired. I was an eye witness to this reception, being delayed waiting for the boat to come in order to take us to the mines in California. The Portland Hotel was a two story frame building. The timbers were small fir trees hewed to a square. It was ceiled on the inside with cedar boards that was spilt and shaved by hand. They

Century Farm & Ranch Applications Available The 2016 version of the applications to have farms and ranches at least 100 years old to be designated as Oregon Century Farms or Ranches is now available. The Oregon Century Farm & Century Ranch Program is a statewide recognition program honoring farmers and ranchers whose families have worked the same land for at least 100 years. The program is administered through the O r e g o n F a r m B u r e a u Foundation for Education.

Since the start of the program in 1958, 1,175 farms and ranches across the state have ben registered. In addition, more than 25 farms and ranches have received a Sesquicentennial designation because they have operated for more than 150 consecutive years. Yamhill County has several Century F a r m s a n d e v e n 4 Sesquicentennial Farms! Successful applicants receive a certificate signed by the Governor. A durable metal road

sign to identify their property as having historic Century Farm or Century Ranch status is also available. Additionally, each family is honored during a special ceremony and reception at the Oregon State Fair. A formal application process is required for properties to be considered for the program. If you know of a farm that should be on this very important list, please have them apply!

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The expedition was financed by John Jacob Astor, the owner of the American Fur Company. Proceeding up the Missouri River then to the Platte River, they reached the Green River in Wyoming in August and built a winter fort, which they named Fort Bonneville. The following spring, the expedition explored along the Snake River in present-day Idaho, and another party, under the leadership of Joseph Walker, was sent to explore the Great Salt Lake and to try to find an overland route to California. Walker was successful, blazing a trail along the Humboldt River across Nevada and discovering a pass across the Sierra Nevada Mountains that would be named for him. Walker Pass and the path he had blazed later became known as the California Trail and was much used during the California Gold Rush. Bonneville and his men spent the summer and fall of 1833 in Wyoming trading with the Shoshone Indians. In January, 1834, they left Fort Bonneville, with the objective of reaching Oregon. In March, 1834, they reached Fort Nez Perce, an outpost of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who refused to trade with them. They then backtracked to Idaho. At this time, the Hudson’s Bay Company held a monopoly in the Pacific Northwest, and even many of the Indian tribes refused to trade with the expedition, even when they became desperate for food. Finally, the expedition began the trek back in April, 1835. They reached Missouri in August. He soon returned to active duty, and fought in both the Mexican War and the Civil War. He retired from the military in 1866 and moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he died at the age 82 on June 12, 1878. He was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri. During his lifetime, his explorations were made famous by writer Washington Irving, who published the book The Adventures of Captain Bonneville, in 1837.

Written by Kathy Weiser, Legends of America, January 2010 http://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-benjaminbonneville.html

The Bonneville Lock and Dam is named for Army Captain Benjamin Bonneville who is credited with charting much of the Oregon Trail.

Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville (1796-1878) - A French-born army officer, frontiersman and explorer of the A m e r i c a n W e s t , Bonneville was born on April 14, 1796 in Paris, France. His family moved to the United States in 1803. Benjamin was well educated and graduated from West Point in 1815. He then received a commission as a Brevet

Second Lieutenant of Light Artillery, and in his early career, served at posts in New England, Mississippi, and at Fort Smith, Arkansas. In 1824, he was transferred to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma and promoted to Captain. After briefly returning to France, Bonneville was then transferred to Jefferson Barracks in Missouri in 1828. While in Missouri, Bonneville was inspired by the writings of Hall J. Kelley, as well as editorials in the St. Louis Enquirer, which were edited by Thomas Hart Benton, that promoted exploration of the American West. Bonneville met with Kelley, who was impressed by him and appointed him to lead one of the expeditions to the Oregon Country that were to leave in early 1832. However, the lack of volunteers for the expedition forced the delay and eventual cancellation of the expedition, leaving Bonneville still anxiously wanting to explore the west. Determined, Bonneville petitioned for a leave of absence arguing that he could perform valuable reconnaissance among the Native Americans, especially in the Pacific Northwest, which at the time was under a precarious joint occupation of the U.S. and Britain and largely controlled by the Hudson’s Bay Company. His leave of absence was granted with the stipulation that he gather as much information as he could provide to the federal government. In 1832, Bonneville took a leave from the military and led 110 men, including explorer and trader, Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth, on an expedition into Wyoming Territory.

Benjamin Bonneville—Exploring & Defending the American West

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Pinkertons Concluded 8. THEY PLAYED A ROLE IN

1 8 9 2 ’ S I N F A M O U S HOMESTEAD MILL STRIKE.

Along with their exploits in the Wild West, the Pinkertons also had a more sinister reputation as the paramilitary wing of big business. Industrialists used them to spy on unions or act as guards and strikebreakers, and detectives clashed with workers on several occasions. During an 1892 strike by the Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers, the Carnegie Steel Company paid some 300 Pinkertons to act as security at its mill in Homestead, Pennsylvania. After arriving at the plant on river barges, the agents squared off with thousands of striking

workers in an all-day battle waged with guns, bricks and even dynamite. By the time the outnumbered Pinkertons finally surrendered, at least a dozen people were dead and several more wounded. The fallout from the melee crippled the steel union, but may also have branded the Pinkertons as “hired thugs,” leading several states to pass laws banning the use of outside guards in labor disputes. 9. THE PINKERTONS WERE

ONCE LARGER THAN THE U.S. ARMY.

After Allan Pinkerton died in 1884, control of his agency fell to his two sons, Robert and William. The company continued to grow under their watch, and by the 1890s, it boasted 2,000 detectives and 30,000 reserves—more men then the standing army of the United States. Fearful that the agency could be hired as a private mercenary army, the state of Ohio later outlawed the Pinkertons altogether.

areas o f

expertise. A more sophisticated criminal library wouldn’t be assembled until the early 20th century and the birth of the FBI. 7. THE PINKERTONS WARRED

WITH JESSE JAMES AND HIS GANG.

During the era of frontier expansion, express companies and railroads often employed the Pinkertons as Wild West bounty hunters. The agency famously infiltrated the Reno gang—perpetrators of the nation’s first train robbery—and later chased after Butch Cassidy and his Wild Bunch. The Pinkertons usually got their man, but in the 1870s, they spent months engaged in a fruitless hunt for the bank robbers Jesse and Frank James. One of their agents was murdered while trying to infiltrate the brothers’ Missouri-based gang, and two more died in a shootout. The hunt came to a bloody end in 1875, when the Pinkertons launched a raid on the James brothers’ mother’s house in Clay County, Missouri. Frank and Jesse were nowhere to be found—they’d been tipped off—but the Pinkertons got into an argument with their mother, Zerelda Samuel. During the standoff, a member of the detectives’ posse tossed an incendiary device through Samuel’s window, blowing part of her arm off and killing the James brothers’ 8 year-old half brother. The botched raid turned public opinion against the Pinkertons. After seeing his detectives denounced as murderers in the papers, Allan Pinkerton reluctantly called off his war against the James gang. Jesse would go on to elude the authorities for another seven years before being killed by an assassin’s bullet in 1882.

10. THE AGENCY STILL EXISTS

TODAY. By the early 20th century, the Pinkertons’ crime fighting duties had largely been absorbed by local police forces and agencies like the FBI. The company lives on as private security firm and guard service, however, and still operates today under the shortened name “Pinkerton.”

Written by Evan Andrews And found on www.history.com

http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-pinkertons

Pinkerton mug shot of bank robber Eddie Guerin

Pinkerton guards break up a strike in Buchtel, Ohio in 1884

Detectives from the Pinkerton Agency guard the coffin of Marilyn Monroe at her funeral in West-wood Memorial Park, in August 1962. Credit: Keystone/Getty Images

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2016 Membership Dues Renewal Notice

Dear Members, THANK YOU for being a Yamhill County Historical Society member! Your contribution to the Society goes directly towards our activities, events, educational programs, building improvements and daily operations, all of which greatly benefit our community. We ask for your membership in the YCHS so we may continue with the valuable activities and events to increase and support our existing membership, and to foster potential visitors and new membership in our community. Thank you for your continued support of the YCHS. You are important to us! It’s members like you that make all the difference.

RETURN THIS ENTIRE FORM WITH YOUR REMITTANCE

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES Members receive The West Side newsletter (10 issues per year), free admission to the Lafayette Museum and Library, access to genealogical and historical files, access to the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center, monthly potluck and program for members, invitations to special programs and events, and 10% off photo orders and gift shop purchases.

The membership year runs from January 1 (or date of new membership) to December 31.

  Dues for 2016 

  Category  (January 1 ‐ Dec. 31, 2016) 

  Senior/Student/Educator  □  $15.00 

  Senior Family  □  $25.00 

  Individual  □  $20.00 

  Family (Basic)  □  $30.00 

  Friend  □  $55.00 

  Supporter  □  $125.00 + 

  Community Builder  □  $250.00 + 

  Community Benefactor  □  $500.00 + 

Please make checks payable to YCHS and return with this printed form to: YCHS, P.O. Box 484, Lafayette, OR 97127

Questions? Call Membership Coordinator Carlene Kadell (503) 474-0480 or email: amity1956@yahoo.com

Name:

Address:

City: Zip Code:

Phone: Email:

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Preserving our Past, Enriching our Future

Historical SocietyHistorical Society& Museums& Museums

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