[or-roots] Finally, an Oregon Pioneer in the family

[Darlene Casteel]

Bill --

Never occurred to me that Noah & Rebecca might also be buried in Pleasant 
Valley Cemetery.  For some unknown reason I have not researched the Van Dorn 
family except for Benedict & his parents.  Maybe it's because I have not 
felt a "kinship".  As I mentioned in an earlier post, Benedict married my 
grandaunt Eliza Griffin.  Sad part of my family history -- Eliza died in 
childbirth in 1896.  Benedict vowed the baby could not be his, and would 
have nothing to do with it.  Eliza's father also would have nothing to do 
with the baby, and the family had no idea even if it was a boy or a girl. 
Gr-grandpa Griffin brought Eliza's body back to be buried in the Griffin 
Cemetery outside Jacksonville.  Benedict moved to Lake Co., OR where he died 
in 1935, and the family apparently had no further communication with him. 
Happy part of my family history -- about 5-6 years ago a member of the 
Josephine Co. Historical Society contacted my aunt (then still living in 
Grants Pass) about a lady who had pictures of Benedict & Eliza " in silver 
frames".  Took us about 2 years, but we finally made contact with the owner 
of the pictures -- portraits in silver PAINTED frames, and she gave them us.

Anyway, I suppose you already know that Noah (he's listed as Nvah Sinkins on 
the Oregon death index on Ancestry) d. in Josephine Co., and Rebecca 
Simpkins d. 27 Mar 1916 in Douglas Co.  Two more death certificates for me 
to pick up on my way through Salem as I head north from sunny Arizona, and 
two more obits to look for next time I visit the Washington State Library 
........ !!

Darlene