[or-roots] MM Melvin and the O & C RR

[glenkc7mbm at comcast.net]

The Spokane, Portland, And Seattle Railroad Historical Society I belive had some information on the O & C, regretably there part of the Clark County Historical Society museum was closed, because of remodeling and does not have the funds to reopen, and all their records Etc. are in storage. 

The SP&S Historical Society does have a couple of books out, do not rememeber off hand if there was anything in them for the O&C. 

The Oregon Historical Society I know has some things on the O&C, you may also be able to get information on a particular individual that worked on the railroad from the Railroad Retirement Board which is located in Chicago. 

Glen Jones, Portland 38year, veteran of the BNSF RR and its forerunners.  


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kith-n-Kin" <Kith-n-Kin at cox.net> 
To: "or-roots mail list" <or-roots at listsmart.osl.state.or.us> 
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 5:24:14 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: Re: [or-roots] MM Melvin and the O & C RR 

Les 

Interesting. Austin and Dill *the Southern Pacific in Oregon* have: 

In 1851 a railroad was proposed by Mr. H. M. Knighton to run from St. Helens 
on the Columbia River, across Cornelieus Pass, to Lafayette which was then a 
principal city in the Willamette Valley. Nothing developed of this proposal, 
although, in 1906, James Hill's Oregon Electric Railway would use a similar 
route. . . 

Legislative session 1853-54: 

1. The Willamette Valley Railroad Company, which proposed a line from 
Portland to the head of the Willamette Valley. 
2. The Oregon and California Railroad Company, which proposed a line from 
Eugene City to "some point in the Willamette Valley below Oregon City" 
3. The Cincinnati Railroad Company, which planned to build from the town of 
Cincinnati in Polk County to the "Polk County Coal Mines." 
4. The Clackamas Railroad Company, proposing a line around the Willamette 
River Falls at Oregon City. 


"On November 21, 1866, Gaston incorporated the Oregon Central Railroad 
Company with offices in Portland, Oregon. The Legislature in 1866 designated 
the Oregon Central Railroad as the company to construct theline in oregon, 
thereby giving Gaston's line the needed land grant. . . ." This was 
essentially by "reincorporating" the "California and Columbia River" group. 
Confused yet? 

Then, along comes S. G. Elliott, (California) who, acting on behalf of the 
interests that controlled the "Oregon and California Railroad" offered to 
"buyout" the Oregon Central Railroad. Gaston was opposed, and won, more or 
less. Some of the incorporators split and joined Elliott. Elliott then 
started his own company, calling it the Oregon Central Rail Road Company. 
(note the "rail" "road" instead of "railroad") 

So, they fought, and eventually, Gaston's westside (the original) company 
became the Southern Pacific Railroad lines in Oregon.   

Ben Holladay a transportation "magnate" took over the eastside lines, 
eventually gaining control (1870s) and sold $10.5 mil in bonds to complete 
the "Oregon and California" Railroad. 

So, you want to know whether Melvin stuck with Gaston, or swung over to 
Elliott and Holladay. Unfortunately, Melvin isn't mentioned, so you have 
some more work cut out for you. 

This is a fascinating story. Sometime hard to follow, but fun none-the-less. 

Whew! 

Pat 
Tucson, AZ 






-----Original Message----- 
From: or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us 
[mailto:or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Leslie 
Chapman 
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2009 7:34 PM 
To: Oregon List 
Subject: [or-roots] MM Melvin and the O & C RR 

At last I have found hard evidence linking my great grandfather and the O & 
C Railroad; 

Oregon Historical Quarterly Vol VII 

ariticle on; The Genesis of the Oregon Railway System by Joseph Gaston which 
starts on page 105. On page 111-112; The Oregon Lesgislature met in 
September, 1866, six weeks after Congress granted the lands in aid of the 
road. It was decided to abandon the orininal organization which had so far 
promoted the enterprise, and accordingly the writer of this paper prepared 
articles for the incorporation of "The Oregon Central Railroad Comapny," 
[why have I always thought it was 'Oregon and Califonria"?]the office and 
headquarters of which should be at Portland, Oregon. These articles were 
signed by J.S. Smith [etc, etc] M. M. Melvin, [etc etc]. 

Gaston goes on to apparently defend the actions of the company and claim 
credit for himself as well as give his authority to write the history as he 
being at the time [1902] the only surviving founder. The article is followed 
by another one on the subject of the Oregon Central by S. A. Clarke which 
begs to differ with Gaston on some pertinent facts. 

I haven't read it in it's entirety, but it looks to be very interesting. The 
two article together run to page 144 and I  notice in one othe evidentiary 
documents grampa's name is spelled Melvine?? 

Les C 

PS there are several Oregon Quarterly editions available on google books to 
download. 

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