Page:Looters of the Public Domain.djvu/73



URING April or May, 1901, McKinley and I discovered that Township 24 South, Range 1 East, Willamette Meridian, had been surveyed and become subject to entry, and as the township was located within the range of the Cascade Forest Reserve, and was practically in the same condition as "11-7" when we located the twelve claims there, and being emboldened because of our success in the latter township, we concluded to try our luck again in locating some more homesteaders, in the same manner pursued in "11-7," with the object of acquiring the basis upon which to make other selections.

Up to this time, be it known, we had experienced no difficulty in the matter of our operations in Township "11-7;" the claims having been acquired, final proofs made, and deeds transferring the lands to Mrs. Emma L. Watson having been executed, without the slightest intimation of impending trouble. It only remained, therefore, from outward appearance, to await the issue of patents, at which time the base in question could be relinquished to the Government and other lands selected in lieu thereof.

As Township 24 South, Range 1 East, was situated on the headwaters of the Middle Fork of the Willamette river, and at an altitude of 4,000 feet and was miles away from any settlement, the conditions made it all the more favorable to our plans, as it was not likely that any one would know whether the homesteaders we located there were bona fide settlers or not.

As the township was located in Lane county, McKinley contended that the homestead filings as well as final proofs could be made before Marie L. Ware, the United States Commissioner at Eugene, the county seat, and he suggested further, because of the fact of Miss Ware being in love with him, that we could work the "dummy" proposition for all it was worth.

Miss Ware was the daughter of Joel Ware, one of the most respected citizens of Lane county. He had been the Clerk of Lane county for a number of years, and had filled various other official positions during his long residence in Oregon, the last being United States Commissioner.

For several years prior to her father's death, Marie had acted in the capacity of clerk in the office, and in that way became quite familiar with official forms. It enabled her to gain an intimate knowledge of land office business coming before her, such as receiving filing papers, and entering them upon the records and township plats; taking final proof of claimants, and testimony of witnesses besides hearing the testimony in contest cases, etc., afterwards transmitting the same to the Roseburg Land Office.

For a year or more before her father's death, Marie conducted all the business that went through his office. Whenever any persons desired to make final proof, she would take down their testimony, afterwards escorting them to her father's bedside, where he would have them acknowledge their signatures, and then attach his official seal to the documents. Mr. Ware continued to fail in health, until finally the United States District Judge, Hon. Chas. B. Bellinger, Page 67