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Philip Condit, Pioneer of 1854
The following series of letters were published in the News-Times, Forest Grove, July 1959 and contributed for inclusion in my web site by L. Jane Gray of Gleneden Beach, OR.
News-Times, Forest Grove, July 16, 1959--
"Letters
Tell of Pioneer Family's Planned Trek To Oregon Territory--
With
the celebration of Oregon's centennial year, many residents have gone digging
in old trunks, pushed in some dark corner of the attic, hunting for some long
treasured relic of Grandpa and Grandma's day. Some of the results have
provided much of interest to see and read for those who look back to the 'good
old days.' and for those who never saw them.
The C.C.
Condit family of 1646 Douglas, Forest Grove, is no different. Condit,
who is employed by the Waltz-Wieber Agency, and Mrs. Condit have been digging
up information and historic records about the Condit family as a hobby for many
years. On a recent trip to California they acquired some new data on the
family, including two letters written in 1853 and 1854 and a diary written by
Condit's great-great-uncle as he and his family crossed the plains from Ohio
on their way to Oregon.
When Philip and Nancy Condit,
with their family, set out from Wood County, Ohio, in 1854, they knew they faced
a long hard trip across the rugged land, with danger from bad water, Indians,
sickness and the thousand and one other troubles that might befall them on the
trail, but they weren't easily discouraged.
At the time
of the trip, Philip Condit was 53 years old and Nancy 48. He was a Presbyterian
minister and had as his main purpose for coming, the establishment of a church,
which he eventually did near Albany.
Seven Children--There
were seven children who made the trip also, the two eldest boys bringing their
wives with them. They were 27, 25, 21, 20, 16 and 12 years of age.
The family began planning for its journey several years before
they actually left their Ohio home and during that time they wrote to many of
their friends, encouraging some of them to join their wagon train.
A
copy of the two original letters still owned by the Condits follow:"
"Mr. Robert Gordon
Post
Master
New Lebanon
Mercer Co, PA
Weston Wood Co
Sept.
3, 1853
Brother R.C. Gordon,
After
my respects to you all I would say to you that we are all in reasonable health
at present. We have had a very dry summer here so that the crops are suffering
a good deal in consequence of it. The railroad is progressing rapidly
as possible. It goes along about a miles from our house. I guess,
however, we will not see the cars running on it this fall.
I
send by next mail a packet of papers in which you will find a series of letters
written by a Mr. Smith of Oregon Territory. Sylvanus sent them to me and
I got them printed in this paper for the benefit of those who wish to go to
Oregon. You can read them to our friends on mill creek, Sylvanus thinks
of coming home this fall to see us, but not to stay. He thinks some of
driving cattle next summer, but I do no know what he will do.
Where's
The Railroad?--I wonder what has become of your railroad of which you wrote
last winter from your town to Mercer. I have heard nothing of it since,
hence, I conclude that is all ended in a few trips in the mud from your town
to Alexander or some other town or city to Mercer. You have never told
us about how it came out.
I wish you would come out and
see us and bring your good lady along and let us have the pleasure of becoming
acquainted with her. It is Saturday and of course I can not write much.
I will therefore leave this for some of the rest to finish if they will.
Give our love to all inquiring friends.
Farewell,
Your Affectionate Brother,
Philip
Condit
Merton,
Wood Co, Pa
Jan. 31, 1854 "
"Brother R. C. Gordon,
We received your letter of the 16th in due season and were
very glad to hear of your welfare and that of the friends.
The
great question of going to Oregon is settled, we are all going, and if you wish
to go with us, come immediately. I wish, however, to view everything in
the light of providence. The Lord sent us a man yesterday, and according
to our wish, we have sold our land. He is to pay us $2,500 dollars for
it in a few days. He lives somewhere about the mouth of the portage river
and his name is Gray.
Start in March--We calculate to
start about the first of March or near that time as we can. Sylvanus wants
to know immediately what you are going to do about going along or letting him
have money to buy cattle with. He has an offer of money from another man,
but if he gets yours he thinks he will not take that and moreover he must let
the man know very soon what he is going to do so that he can have the money
ready for him. Sylvanus lot a letter yesterday from Iowa which states
that oxen are high. I think from 60 to 75 dollars a yoke, and most things
about in proportion to that.
The present calculation is
for us all to start from here about the first of March. Our present idea
is that we will take horses and 4 wagons or we might say three 2-horse wagons,
one 2-horse buggy and when we get out to the starting place buy oxen and put
to the wagons.
We have put up advertisements to all our
personal property on next week Friday. I feel (mallenkelly) to write much,
therefore you have to do with ? .
Yours truly
P.
Condit
Dear Brother,
I
was going to say something about your taking your children with you if you go
but perhaps I had better not. I do not know certain whether Mr. Black
will let Nancy go but I guess it is rather doubtful and if he don't I would
like to have Nancy Lucetta very much but I do not want to persuade you for fear
I might do wrong. Look to God for direction and decide and wish and let
us know. I must close now. It is late and the boys want to start
to Penneebough before day. I remain your affectionate sister.
K. Condit
-O-
"
My name is Stephenie Flora. Thanks
for stopping by. Return to [ Home Page ]
All [ Comments
and Inquiries ] are welcome.