Benton County, Oregon - Biographical sketches, 1885 (part 3 of 3)

FRANCIS WRITS MAN, (deceased). - This early pioneer of Benton county, was born in Rutherford county, North Carolina, February 10, 1801. Residing in the Sunny South until 1820 he, with his parents, in that year, moved west to Clay county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming. In 1832 he was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Officer, and removed to North Grand River, and lived for eight years ; then moving to the Piatt Purchase in Andrew county. In May, 1847, he, with his wife and family of eight children, started with ox-teams to cross ttte plains to Oregon, arriving in Benton county some five months later, when he purchased the donation claim of David Stump, in Soap Creek precinct, where he resided, leading a life of usefulness and in the enjoyment of the esteem of his fellow-pioneers until his death, which sad eveni occurred July 18, 1877. Mr. Writsman left a large estate of one thousand two hundred acres, a view of which will be found in this history. Mrs. Writsman, a venerable old lady, still resides with her son, John, on the old homestead.

JOHN E. WYATT - This enterprising young farmer of Benton (his native) county, was born January 26, 1846, and is the son of that well known pioneer Wm. Wyatt. John E., was educated at Philomath and resided on his father's farm until 1870, when he was united in marriage to Miss Malissa Henkle, when he embarked in farming for himself, an occupation he now follows, two miles west of Corvaillis. He has a family of four children ; Rosalie C, Milton A., Lizzie A. and Minnie M.

W ILLIAM WYATT. - The subject of this sketch, one of the early pioneers of Benton county, as well as among his most prominent citizens, was born in Buckinghamshire, England, October 24, 18 16, and there resided on a farm until he accompanied his parents to the United States of America in 1836. He first settled in Orange county, New York, but two years afterwards moved to Adams county, in the same State. In a short time, however, his residence was transferred to Henderson county, Illinois, where he was permanently located until April 25, 1847. At this time, accompanied by his wife and three children, Mr. Wyatt started to cross the plains to Oregon with ox teams, joining a train then on its way, at Burlington, Iowa, and in which were Mr. and Mrs. Grimsley, now of Benton county. Entering the territory by the Applegate route, Mr. Wyatt arrived in what is now Benton, November 1, 1847, passed the first winter on the farm of the late Hon. Wayman St. Clair, on which since has arisen trTe neat little town of Philomath. Until the month of November, 1850, our subject was a simple lessor of land, but at that time he took up the donation claim on which he still resides, situated one mile to the north of the town just named, to which he has added from time to time until his landed possessions now aggregate three thousand seven hundred acres, and placed him second on the list of tax-payers in Benton county. To Mr. Wyatt is due much of the credit that the county has in Philomath College. Not only has he himself aided handsomely towards its erection but his wife, from her own purse has given a donation of five hundred dollars, while, his eldest son, is the present general agent of the institution and has been actively solicitous for its advancement from its start. In the first instance Mr. Wyatt donated to the College the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars; at another time* he contributed three hundred dollars to its building fund, while he has personally given at least three hundred dollars* worth of actual labor in connection therewith. He married, in Orange county, New York, April 19, 1838, Miss Mary T. End, a native of England, by which union there have been seven children, viz: Eliza A. (now Mrs. A. J. Williams), Ezra C, Martha E. (deceased), John E., Cynthia A. (now Mrs. Jonathan G.

Springer), M. Eva, Samuel T. and Franklin. Before closing this sketch it is but just to state that, although possessing a considerable share of this world's goods Mr. Wyatt feels that such is but a means towards doing good. Still active he still continues that alertness in mind and body that has stood him in such good stead, while his well know generosity to the deserving and honesty to all make his old age honorable and happy. A view of Mr. Wyatt's Home will be found in this work.