Philomath, Oregon - History

History

In the year 1882 the town of Philomath was incorporated in accordance with the laws of the State of Oregon, the first officers to serve being :

Hawkins' Saw Mill. - This mill is located about one mile to the west of the town of Philomath, on the South Fork of Mary's river, and was erected in 1878 or the following year by David Enos. In 1881 it was purchased by Messrs. Hawkins and Logston, and was carried on by them until November, 1884, when it passed into the hands of the first named gentleman. It has a capacity of about six thousand feet of lumber per day, which is manufactured chiefly from red and yellow fir, and gives employment for four workmen.

Henkle's Saw Mill. - This establishment is situated four miles westward from Philomath, and had its first start on the South Fork of Mary's river. It has had many vicissitudes, having been once destroyed by fire, in 1872, and twice re-built. It has a capacity of about ten thousand feet per day, chiefly fir timber, for which a ready market is found in Philomath, Corvallis, and the surrounding country.

Moore's Saw Mill. - This mill has its location at the head of Pleasant Valley, seven and a half miles from Philomath, and was erected in the year 1865 by Jesse Hoffman. In 1884 it passed into the hands of Francis Moore, its present owner, and has a capacity of six hundred feet per day.

Felger's Grist Mill. - On the North Fork of Mary's river, about one mile west from the town of Philomath, is this establishment. It was built in 1854 by Messrs. Hartless and Matzger, and is a frame building three stories in height and covering a space of thirty-six by forty-eight feet. From its original proprietors it passed into the hands of Thomas Reader and William Pearson, the former of whom, in 1867, sold his interest to the present owner, and he having purchased the share of the latter, in 1869, thus became the sole proprietor of the mill. It has a capacity of about seventy-five barrels of flour in the twenty-four hours, and is conducted by Mr. Felger entirely for custom trade.