Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/161

Rh Lyle. Mrs. Ford and her daughters were dainty women. The two older daughters, Josephine and Mary Ann had attended "The Female Seminary" at Columbia, Missouri. Young Marcus Ford had attended Bacon College, at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and in Oregon was reading law. Colonel Ford was surveying and assisting in locating land claims for incoming pioneers and so collected and brought home the news of the valley and the latest word from "the States."

Miss Caroline Burch, granddaughter of Nathaniel Ford, has given a copy of the following letter which reveals some of the interests of the period: Vale of the Rickreall,

June 15, '45.

Judge Nesmith:

Dear Sir:

I send you by my father "Chitty on Contracts" which you can retain if you wish to—until next fall. I sent you "Mansfields' Political Grammar" some two weeks ago—by Mr. Saxson.

Genl. Gilliam and myself purpose taking an elk hunt sometime in the last days of July—and I would be glad that you would join us.

I neglected to write until my father was to start and I am, consequently, compelled to forego the pleasure of writing you a lengthy letter. Very respectfully,

Your friend,

M. A. Ford.

The beautiful little valley charmed travel worn settlers and claims were early located along the banks of the creek from the foothills of the Coast Mountains to the Willamette. On one side of Nathaniel Ford, Carey Embree had located, on the other side was David Goff, beyond him Joshua Shaw. To the west smoke rose from the cabins of Cornelius Gilliam, and Mitchell Gilliam, of Benjamin Nichols and Frank Nichols. A mile or two