[or-roots] Rigdon Journals

[Diane]

Bob, I will address to the whole list---others might be interested, also.

The Rigdon Journals are a valuable piece of Oregon history on the travels
back and forth over the southern Cascades via (usually) Eugene's
City/Springfield to eastern Oregon.

Stephen and Zilphia (Bristow) Rigdon  purchased 144 acres of State school
land at the upper end of Pine Openings where he built a cabin-store to sell
supplies to those going over the Emigrant Road/Oregon Central Military Road.
The location was 100 miles to Silver Lake, 130 miles to Fort Klamath, 130
miles to Prineville.  There he and his wife stayed during the summer months
beginning in 1871.  The Rigdons sold out in 1897 to a Mr Gilbert of Eugene.

There are different handwriting in the Journals, so probably a number of
people were responsible for the entries.

Pine Openings became Big Pine Openings.  there is also a Little Pine
Openings about 5 miles northwest of Big Pine Openings.  Charles Walker Young
and a number of others took cattle to the area during the spring and summer
months.

The description for Rigdon's land is T 24E, R4E, Section?

I believe the Journal begins in June 1873.  It says who, date, where to, how
many men, how many horses, number of wagons, number of women, children and
cattle.  All in different columns.  It is noted if the people were going
east or going west.

I wonder with all the new photography methods, if the journals could be
photographed.

Diane