Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 2.djvu/99

Rh As to the number of men in this train he thinks that there were less than fifty in all, although probably somewhere near that number.

Willapa, however, did not prove desirable as a permanent place, and although a considerable number of the families found homes there, Dr. Keil determined to look elsewhere. It was too much isolated and communication by wagon roads with the rest of the world was impossible. After spending a part of a year at Portland, becoming acquainted with the country and the people, and in the meantime doing a good practice at his profession, in 1856 he, with about fourteen or fifteen of the young men, decided to make a beginning at some point in the Willamette Valley. A suitable place was found in the heavily wooded country east of French Prairie, and here a settlement was made. The place was given the attractive name of Aurora, in honor of the third daughter of Dr. Keil. For the sum of $1,000 a tract of two quarter sections, upon which there was already a little improvement, was contracted for and a part of the purchase price was paid down. One of the main advantages was a millsite upon which a small sawmill had already been erected and there was also a little gristmill with one set of burrs. One of the quarter sections was known as the George White place, and the other that of George Smith. On the White place there was a primitive log cabin which had been built in 1849, and here for some time the little colony lived as one family, being about twenty-five in number.

The sawmill was a small affair built upon a little creek that coursed through the place, but it was operated and lumber was manufactured. The gristmill was also run. The building is still standing and is now used as a barn; the present Hurst mill having been built across