Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1 Jun 1850, Mcdonough Co., Illinois, USA; : 7y
• Arrival: 28 Aug 1853, Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon, USA; Oregon trail, Plains Crossing
• Census: 24 Aug 1860, Albany, Linn, Oregon; : 17y; Address:
  Albany
• Census: 1 Jun 1870, Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon; : 27y
• Occupation: 1 Jun 1870, Coast Fork, Lane, Oregon; Keeping House
• Census: 21 Jun 1880, Cottage Grove, Lane, Oregon; : 37y
• Occupation: 21 Jun 1880, Cottage Grove, Lane, Oregon; Keeping House
• Census: 1 Jun 1900, Mapleton, Lane, Oregon; : 57y
• Occupation: 1 Jun 1900, Mapleton, Lane, Oregon; Keeping House
• Census: 15 Apr 1910, Mapleton, Lane, Oregon; : 67y; Address:
  Smith River Road
• Occupation: 15 Apr 1910, Mapleton, Lane, Oregon; None
• Anecdote: 15 Dec 1914, Glenada, Lane Co., Oregon

Notes:

REMINISCENCES OF TRIP ACROSS THE PLAIN
By JANE LUPER DOUGLAS
Now, as Uncle John Luper has crossed the Plains, I will see what I can think of, or see if I can freshen up my memory of those childhood days out on the Plains where we saw Indians, Buffalo, Rocky Mountain Sheep, Sage Hens and Rabbits.
It was in the Spring of 1853 that I remember well of leaving the old Home place in McDonough County, Illinois, for Oregon.
My father had three large wagons loaded with provision and clothing besides a large spring wagon that Ma and us children rode in. This wagon was drawn by a span of large mares, and the large-loaded wagons were drawn by oxen. We had several cows that were broke to yoke and hitched to the wagons the same as the oxen, but I don't remember of seeing the cows put into the teams with the oxen.
After bidding all the friends and relatives good-bye, we drove up to Uncle Issac Butler's to stay that night. And after supper there, we went over to my Grandfather Robinson's and there ate another supper, though my supper there consisted mostly of biscuit and honey and I don't think that I have ever tasted honey that was half so good, and that too with big fat cream biscuit. My, I can almost taste them yet.
Well, after bidding those relatives good-bye in the morning, we started on, and it seemed to me only 2 or 3 days till we reached the Mississippi River that we crossed at Burlington. There we stopped for awhile. I remember that Ma went into the store and done some shopping. And I sat there in the wagon and watched the fashionably dressed women. It seemed to me that I never saw so many pretty women. I am surprised now that our men didn't all stop there - according to my childish fancy they were something grand.
Then on and on we traveled, through the state of Iowa through storm and mud. When almost across that State, we saw the first Indians

98

out in their war paint, great tall, strapping big fellows that made us children crawl back into the wagons and cover up our heads.
The Indians came out to meet the emigrants, holding out their hands, begging for money. Before we reached the Missouri River, we stopped at Council Bluff to load in provisions that had been shipped on ahead from some point near our old home, I think Canton. After Pa and the men had loaded in their freight, we drove on and I believe crossed the Missouri River that afternoon, late. There on the steamer that crossed us over, I saw the first Negro that I ever saw. And that scared me almost cold, for as he pulled our hack on deck, I thought he was going to pull us into the river. But we were all cold that night for we had to crawl off to bed with just crackers and hardtack for our supper. I remember of complaining over that night's lodging too. The river was rising fast and the men had to get some teams together and haul the wagons up out of the river bottom into the woods that was higher land; and there tied their teams to the trees ill morning. There is the spot where Omaha now stand. Then, after driving out into the open prairie, a pretty spot I thought, they made a fire and cooked eur breakfast. I don't remember anything of importance for a long distance, only the long tedious journey. It was travel all day. Stop and camp. Cook and eat - the next day the same thing over. And so on to the end.
I can look back now and see so many little things that are only "memories" now.
And I don't wonder that the men got too lazy to wash their faces when we struck camp-even refused to wash before they ate. I remember one evening that Pa told them there was no supper for them unless they washed and cleaned up a little. And just think of the dust and heat. But we were all there and had to keep moving if it was tiresome, and so it was. I remember of crossing Green River, a rough, rocky stream but the water so low that we forded. And after crossing safely, I got the worse scare that I encountered on the whole trip with an old Indian.
I was riding in Uncle John's wagon and an Indian came sneaking up along beside the wagon as we were waiting for other teams to come on;
and the off ox, Old Buck that would not let any of us children come near him was so very kind that he let that old Indian come forward between him and the wheel to look in and see what was inside of that wagon. Of course he saw a rifle strapped on each side of the wagon bows. Well, maybe I did not let out a yell loud enough to raise the dead on those plains, and I gave Uncle John a scolding besides. To this day I have no love for an Indian nor do I like to read Indian stories
Well do I remember old Fort Laramie where Pa came near turning one of his men away for taking something that did not belong to him. I wrote my name on that Independence Rock that Uncle John mentions in his diary, and I tried to do what I saw others do, except to plunge into some stream and try to swim.

99

I also remember a big snow storm on Bear River on the 4th of July. I also remember Hot Springs and crossing a small stream where the water was hot enough to wash clothes. One spring they called Humboldt that was huge like a great boiling kettle. On Platte River I saw a herd of buffalo plunge into the river and swim across to the other side. We heard thunder storms in that country that were hard to beat. So along in that country it was thunder storms and Indians. One time as soon as our cattle were turned loose, they swam across a stream and into the woods' they went, seemingly on an Island I know. I rode there day after day, reading the Guide Books to see where would be our next camping places; those books which tell the names of streams and mention the camping places and if there was grass or not. Pa made it his business to walk on ahead towards evening to hunt up a camping place where there was water and grass - and wood if to be had.
Well, finally we drifted on over the Cascade Mountains into Oregon, or better yet, into the Willamette Valley and on into Linn County where Pa bought out Avery Smith's Donation Claim, paid him $500.00 in gold - yes, in 50 dollar "gold slugs" that I never forget. There we were in a house again and how glad to have an earthen plate to eat on once more. Now you know all the rest. So, good-by till we reach the other country.
Sarah Jane Luper Douglas

Source Foulkes, Allied Families, 1952.

Anecdote:
Memories of the Plains Crossing, See p. 9-11 of citation

Died:
Notes from Mollie Luper

Sarah married Douglas, James Sanders on 13 Jul 1860. James (son of Douglas, Banister Wade and Sheets, Sarah) was born in Apr 1833 in Switzerland Co., Indiana; died on 2 Oct 1925 in Marion County, Oregon. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Douglas, Lillian Antoinette was born on 22 Sep 1862 in Centralia, Washington Territory; died on 10 Sep 1921 in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon; was buried on 10 Sep 1921 in Eugene, Lane County, Oregon.
2. Douglas, Lincoln was born in 1864.
3. Douglas, Arthur was born in Jun 1866 in Oregon, USA; died on 19 Jun 1936.
4. Douglas, Oradell was born cal 1872 in Oregon, USA.
5. Douglas, Nina E was born in Apr 1891 in California.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1 Jun 1850, Mcdonough Co., Illinois, USA; : 32y
• Occupation: 1 Jun 1850, Mcdonough Co., Illinois, USA; Farmer
• Residence: Abt 1 Apr 1853, Virgil, Fulton Co., IL, USA
• Residence: 4 Apr 1853, Illinois
• Arrival: 28 Aug 1853, Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon, USA; Emmigrant migration, Oregon Trail
• Occupation: Abt Sep 1853, Albany, Linn, Oregon; Farmer
• Residence: Abt Sep 1853, Albany, Linn, Oregon; Address:
  6 Miles south of Albany
• Census: 24 Aug 1860, Albany, Linn, Oregon; : 43y; Address:
  Albany
• Occupation: 24 Aug 1860, Albany, Linn, Oregon; Farmer
• Census: 11 Jun 1870, Albany, Linn, Oregon; : 52y
• Occupation: 11 Jun 1870, Albany, Linn, Oregon; Farmer
• Residence: 1878, Downey, California
• Residence: 1878, West Albany, Albany, Oregon
• Census: 1 Jun 1880, Los Nietos, Los Angeles, California; : 63y
• Occupation: 1 Jun 1880, Los Nietos, Los Angeles, California; Farmer
• Census: 1 Jun 1900, San Diego Ward 9, San Diego, California; : 82y; Address:
  710 Harrison Ave. San Diego, CA
• Occupation: 1 Jun 1900, San Diego Ward 9, San Diego, California; Not Employed

Notes:

Crossed the plains in a covered wagon, April through Sept. 1853 Have his brother John's diary pages (copied?) of the trip, started April 5, 1853, ended Sept. in Oregon. (Land claim data suggest arrival 26, 29 August

Martin Luper Land Claim
Cert. No 1493
Place of Residence: Land Co. Oregon
Born 1817
Place of Birth: Crawford Co., PA
Arrived in Oregon: 28 Aug. 1853
Date of Marriage: 14 Apr. 1846
Place of Marriage: Knox County, Illinois

MARTIN LUPER
a farmer three miles south of Norwalk, is a native of the Keystone State, born in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and is a son of Jacob and Nancy (McMurtry) Luper. His father moved to Huron County, Ohio, when Martin was twelve years old, and there followed farming until his death. Mr. Luper went to Illinois when a young man, and there, on October 24, 1841, married Margaret Robinson, who died April 11, 1844, leaving one child. He married Frances Dunbar, April 14, 1846, with whom he crossed the plains in the early days of California, coming with three two-horse wagons and eighteen yoke of cattle, about half of them being cows, and one span of mules and one of mares. They were on the way from April till August 27, 1853. His wife died May 16, 1859, leaving five children. He followed farming very successfully in the Willamette Valley, Oregon, till 1878, when he moved to Los Angeles County. Since coming here he has also been very successful. He owned a fine farm near Downey till recently, when he sold out at a handsome profit and bought 160 acres of land where he now lives. He has built a very commodious residence and barn, overlooking the finest scope of country toward the ocean that can be seen in this county. On this ranch he has two fine artesian wells, and has planted some fine orchards of bluegum, oranges, peaches and apricots; and in his wide and fertile pastures may be seen some of the finest horses in this or any other part of the State. Mr. Luper married Mary Gosner in Los Angeles, February 8, 1889. She is a native of the Buckeye State, being born near Mount Vernon, and is a daughter of Dr. Joseph and Sarah (Plue) Gosner. Her father was of Pennsylvania Dutch origin, and her mother of French. Her father was a farmer in his early life, but later a practicing physician. Mr. Luper has been a man of energy and eminently successful. He is one to whom " Nature has been kind," and in his old days, which are now beginning to come on, he will be able to extract as much comfort from life as any man living.

An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California, Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1889
Page 534
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/biographies/l/luper-martin.txt


Arrival:
Eventual destination was Tangent / West Albany, Oregon.

Residence:
About 6 Mi. south of Albany Ore, bought a claim with cabin, 320 acres of wheat land.
Oregon Land Claim No. 1493 (call no. 979.5 G 326 c 1 p. 60)

Residence:
160 Acre Farm (3 Mi. So of Norwalk)

Residence:
Tract, assigned to H. Speidel, Mrs. J. Spangler, and Luper appear on this map (See index 32, top half, 2nd page, map five)

Buried:
Buried next to wife, Mollie E Norris
Plot: DIV 6 SEC 1
Find A Grave Memorial# 41519798

James married Robinson, Margaret on 24 Oct 1841. Margaret was born on 19 Nov 1821; died on 11 Apr 1844 in Fulton, Illinois; was buried on 11 Apr 1844 in Virgil Cemetery, Avon, Fulton Co., Illinois. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Buried:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/121637521/margaret-luper

Jacob married McMurtry, Nancy on 15 Apr 1813. Nancy (daughter of McMurtry, Joseph and Kirkpatrick, Margaret) was born on 3 Feb 1792 in Harmonsburg, Crawford County, Pennsylvania; died on 11 Oct 1836 in Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Nancy Luper

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1810, Sadsbury Township, Crawford Co. PA

Notes:

Military records of Johan Jacob, Pennsylvania Archives
Ser. 5, vol. 4, p293, 631
Ser. 3, Vol 23 p 267
Ser. 6 vol 4, p 266 & 594
Ser. 6 Vol 5 p 185, 187, 189
Ser. 6, Vol 15, p 185

Military Begining:
Revolution for American Independence (DAR 129302)

Anecdote:
From Lenore Speidel Smith's Family History notebook:
"Jacob Luper, Sen[ior?], Grandfather of Martin Luper lived on a farm, 3 mi. north of Harmonsburg, Penn, Crawford Co. with his wife, Magdalena Barnheisel Luper. They raised a large family, had a large farm. Children: Joseph, Dan, Israel, Jacob, Sam, David, Mattie, Christina, Katherine, Susan. Susan married Brown, Christine married Smith. George Luper, Son of Dan was a big insurance financier of NY City. The security trust and life insurance company, Broadway and twenty sixth st. New York, NY."

Jacob fought in War of Revolution for American Independence. Ranger on the frontier, PA archives. Soldier of the revolution, Cumberland Co Militia DAR 129302

Johan married Bernheisel, Mary Magdalene before 25 May 1797. Mary (daughter of Bernheisel, John Martin and Chateau, Anna Christina Martretha) was born on 18 Feb 1775; died in 1844. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Mary Magdalene Luper

Notes:

Thomas was a Fife Major (Recruiting?) in the Revolutionary War (1812) at Erie, PA. Three older McMurtry's were also in Revolutionary War -- source, Lenore's family history book
Imprisoned in 1781 for debt

Joseph married Kirkpatrick, Margaret about 1788. Margaret (daughter of Kirkpatrick, Andrew and Gaston, Margaret) was born on 26 Aug 1771 in Mine Brook, Somerset Co., NJ; died on 8 Mar 1855 in Harmonsburg, Crawford County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]