| Levi Scott, the founder of Scottsburg, and a
friend of both Cyrus Hedden and Loren L. Williams was living away from the
area at the time, he wrote the following letter to Cyrus inquiring about his
and Williams' recent encounter with the Indians: Cirous Haden
I wish you to rite me in relation to the difficulty you had with the indians
at coos bay how you come to go thare how the attack took place and whare,
the names of all your party, who was killed or wounded youre trip up the
umpcaw river, what indians it was if you know whare willoms died what he was
worth and dispocial he made of his money how long he lay with his wound
before he recovered
Respectfuly youres
Levi Scott
Levi Scott's information was incorrect
and it is uncertain whether the letter to Cyrus (or a copy of it) was ever
sent.
Loren L. Williams died in 1881 at the age of fifty,
however, he never forgot his lifelong friend, Cyrus W. Hedden. In his will,
he bequeathed $5,000.00 to Cyrus.
The story of Hedden's epic struggle to save Loren L.
Williams continues to stand as a classic example of the character and
fortitude of Oregon's early settlers and pioneers, and an example of
brotherhood.
Cyrus was not destined, nor did he want to become known
as an "Indian fighter". He preferred to be known as a merchant. When he
first arrived at the newly developing community of Scottsburg, it looked
promising to him. The community was rapidly becoming a gold rush
provisioning center. Sailing ships from various ports were coming up the
Umpqua River on the tide to the end of tidewater and unloading their
cargoes. Pack trains were being assembled and were carrying goods through
the gentle pass to the central valleys and the gold fields.
When Cyrus settled in Scottsburg, there were two stores, one in a tent made
from the sails of the wrecked schooner, Bostonian, the other in a
prefabricated zinc building that had been shipped around the Horn. Cyrus
firmly believed it was here that he could and would make his niche in life.
Following his short recovery and recuperation, Cyrus worked at whatever he
could get to do, and it wasn't long before he sailed to San Francisco, where
he purchased a full outfit of blacksmiths tools, and returned to Scottsburg
and opened a blacksmith shop. From that time forward, he prospered and gave
his entire attention to his trade, until the fall of 1852, when he
established himself in the mercantile business in Scottsburg, the
circumstances of which appear vague.
On the second day of the July 1852 session of the Umpqua County Court,
Edward Spicer and Loren L. Williams petitioned the Court for and received
grocery licenses for one year. They paid the fee of $50.00 each for the
licenses. Both men lived in Scottsburg, however, since Williams was listed
for the poll tax on the 1852 tax roll, it
might be fair to assume that he ran a store for another individual, perhaps
Cyrus Hedden.
In the fall of 1854, Cyrus W. Hedden married Margaret
Sawyers, daughter of John Jacob Sawyers, another pioneer family of Umpqua
(Douglas) County. Four children were born of the marriage: John N., Hulda
(who later became Mrs. John A. Fryer), and two more daughters who died in
infancy.
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| Cyrus & wife, Margaret |
Cyrus, Margaret & Hulda
Hedden |
Mrs. Cyrus (Margaret)
Hedden
with John and Hulda |
Owing to his own diligence
and good management, Cyrus became a very successful businessman. He also
became more interested and involved in the continued up building of
Scottsburg and the surrounding area.
On December 30, 1859, Cyrus Hedden was elected as one
of three directors of the newly formed Scottsburg School District (the new
district, Umpqua School District No. 13, consisted of all the land west and
northwest of Golden Creek in the Scottsburg precinct). Scottsburg had held a
school session in 1858, attended by sixteen students. A school session in
1859 was attended by fifteen students. By forming the district, Scottsburg
became eligible for county funds for the students.
Roads, and the condition of them, was always a major
concern of the area citizens and a major topic at the sessions of the Umpqua
County Court. The December, 1859 session of the Court appointed Cyrus to be
the supervisor for the Scottsburg Road District, one of fifteen road
districts in the county. As road supervisor, Cyrus had the responsibility of
knowing of every person residing within his district who were liable to
perform labor on the public roads. Every person was liable for one day's
work in opening a road in his district. After that, each person had to
perform one day's labor for each two thousand dollars of taxable property
they owned. The alternative was to pay the supervisor $2.00 for each day's
work not performed. A day's work was defined as eight hours and workers were
expected to work diligently. As supervisor, Cyrus had to maintain the
fingerboard at junctions giving direction and mileage to communities.
Cyrus petitioned the Court to be excused from
accepting the position of road supervisor, however, the Court ruled, "that
since it appeared that insufficient reason was given, the petition was
denied." The law that governed the road supervisor fined anyone who refused
to accept the position $25.00. Cyrus served his position with the same
diligence and attention he gave his business.
The winter of 1861-62 was a major disaster to
Scottsburg and the surrounding area. One report stated that only Lyon's
Hotel and a few houses remained in Upper Scottsburg, while another said that
Hedden's Store had survived the flood (a definitive conclusion as to
surviving businesses and homes has never been established). One thing was
certain, many people left the Umpqua valleys. Those who stayed, like the
Hedden family, just worked harder.
As a result of the June 1862 election, Cyrus Hedden was
elected to serve as an Umpqua County Commissioner. At the first meeting
(July 7, 1862) Umpqua County officers, Cyrus and the other officers approved
the proposal to move the courthouse to the Yoncalla Institute.
The September 1862 session of the Umpqua County Court
met at the Yoncalla Institute at Yoncalla, occupying the upper floor. Loren
L. Williams was the clerk, having also been elected in the June 1862
elections. Among much business, the Court approved the payment of $20.00 to
Cyrus for services and mileage as County Commissioner.
Following his session at the
September 1862 Court, Cyrus would soon have an issue that he would have to
address as Commissioner. The Oregon State Legislature had sealed the fate of
Umpqua County by passing an act to consolidate the counties of Umpqua and
Douglas into one county on October 16, 1862. The bill described the new
boundaries and "decreed all taxes and public dues of whatever nature due for
the inhabitants of Umpqua County shall be payable to the County of Douglas."
The act was to take effect from the first Monday in July 1863 on. It also
repealed the act which created and organized Umpqua County. Douglas County
had twice the population (3,234 to 1 ,250) and assessed valuation of Umpqua
County.
Commissioner Hedden and Clerk Williams, and the other
members of the court met for six days at the February session of the Umpqua
Court at the Yoncalla Institute. Much county road, bridges, and other
business was attended to.
A June 1863 special session and last meeting of the Umpqua County Court
turned into a "housekeeping" session. The Clerk, Loren L. Williams, was
ordered to "render a correct report to the Board of Douglas County at
Roseburg at the next regular meeting." The last entry in the Umpqua County
Court Journal, written by Williams, stated, "There being no further business
the court adjourned without day forever." Umpqua County died July 6, 1863.
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| John Hedden |
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John N. Hedden, son
of Cyrus and Margaret, returned from his attendance at the Portland Business
School, from which he graduated in 1878, and went to work with his father in
the mercantile business. He followed his chosen profession until his death
in 1941.
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| Hedden's second store
in Scottsburg. |
Hedden Family Home 1896 |
Cyrus Hedden's store
handled everything from a pin to a threshing machine, and at times weighed
gold dust as legal tender. Tons of grain and large amounts of wool were
shipped through Hedden's Store to San Francisco and other markets. The store
was a general gathering place, and many issues and topics were thrashed out
around the stove. The crowd often waited until eleven o' clock at night for
the old stagecoach to arrive from Drain with the mail.
Cyrus Hedden finally gave over the store to John,
however, as a compliment to his father, John conducted the business under
the name of C. Hedden until his father's death.
The business handled all lines of merchandise and in
time had no competition in the valley. The business outfitted ranchers up
and down the valley with clothing, food, and could get them the necessary
farm implements.
Cyrus Hedden was a lifelong Republican. He was
publicly spirited, giving generously to assist education and the progress of
Douglas County. His repertoire was replete with tales of early Oregon and of
Scottsburg. At the age of 91, Cyrus quietly passed from this earth on March
29, 1911, and the county lost one of its' most honored and valued citizens.
He was buried in the Scottsburg Pioneer Cemetery.
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