Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society
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Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society |
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WALKER, WESLEY R. & AUGUSTUS L. The Walker Brothers: Donation Land Claimants in Hugo, Oregon The Donation Land Law, passed September 27, 1850, provided that each resident white or half-breed settler who was a citizen of the United States or who within a year declared his intention of becoming a citizen could receive 320 acres in his own name and, if married, another 320 acres in the name of his wife. Originally the law was to expire in 1853 but the time was extended to December 1855 and provided for those settlers who arrived in Oregon after the 1850 date to receive 160 acres, if single, and 320 acres (160 acres in wife’s name) if married. The law required four successive years residence on the donation land claim before making application for certification, however the Act of 1853 made it possible for the claimants to purchase their claims for $1.25 per acre after two successive years of residence on said land. The act also provided for widows and orphans. The law further provided there had to be three disinterested witnesses to the fact of continued residence and cultivation. Augustus L. and Wesley R. Walker were white native citizens of the United States born in Henderson County, Kentucky. They were single men when they arrived in Oregon October 12, 1852. The brothers were mining at Galice when the Indian War began October 1855. They enlisted as Privates and fought in the "Siege of Galice Creek." Claudette Morning Pruitt. 2004. Come Take a Historic Journey along the Galice Trail. Morning Creek Enterprises. Grants Pass, OR. Page 16. Thirty-one year old Wesley was five years older than his brother when on March 1, 1855 they both commenced settlement of their respective donation land claim lands just in time before the land law expired at the end of 1855. They continued settlement to March 1, 1859, thus meeting the four year requirement of the land law and each ending up with patent to approximately 160 acres on Jumpoff Joe Creek in northern Josephine County (Donation Land Claim Map). The three disinterested witnesses required by the land law to prove settlement for Augustus were:
The three disinterested witnesses for Wesley were:
The 1860 census for Josephine County identified that the brothers were in the Walker’s Mill Precinct named after them and their sawmill and that Augustus was part of Wesley Walker’s household along with several other men (i.e., Taylor, Lane, Moore, Land, and Youck). Wesley and Augustus were farmers. The other men, expect for Youck, were farm laborers. Youck was a miner from China. Wesley Walker married Harrietta Peterson September 15, 1861. Much later Walker Mountain was named after Augustus and Wesley. Augustus L. Walker - Donation Land Claim
Wesley R. Walker - Donation Land Claim
*************** Appendix A
To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting; Whereas, There has been deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a Certificate numbered Eight hundred and sixty one (CT 861) of the Register and Receiver at Roseburg, Oregon. Whereby it appears that under the provisions of the Act of Congress appeared the 27th day of September 1850, entitle "An Act to create the Office of Surveyor General of the Public lands in Oregon and to provide for the survey and to make donations to settlers of the said public lands," and the legislation supplemented thereto, the claim of Augustus L. Walker of Josephine County, Oregon Notification No. 700 has been established to a donation of one quarter section, or one hundred and sixty acres of land, and that the same has been surveyed and designated according, to the official plot of survey returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, as the East half of the South West quarter and the West half of the South East quarter of section thirty-five, and in the Township Thirty-Five South of Range Six West in the district of lands subject to sale at Roseburg, Oregon and containing in the aggregate one hundred and sixty acres. Now known ye. That the United States of America in consideration of the ?? and in conformity with the provisions of the act aforesaid, have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant, unto the said Augustus L. Walker and to his heirs the tract of land above described. To have and to hold the said tract, with the ?? unto the said Augustus L. Walker and to his heirs and assigns forever. In testimony whereof I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, have caused these letters to be made patent and the seal of the General Land Office to be here into affixed. Given under my hand at the City of Washington this seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six (1866), and of the Independence of the United States the ninety-first.
********** Appendix B
To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting; Whereas, There has been deposited in the General Land Office of the United States a Certificate numbered seven hundred and seventy-eight (CT 778) of the Register and Receiver at Roseburg, Oregon. Whereby it appears that under the provisions of the Act of Congress appeared the 27th day of September 1850, entitle "An Act to create the Office of Surveyor General of the Public lands in Oregon and to provide for the survey and to make donations to settlers of the said public lands," and the legislation supplemented thereto, the claim of Wesley R. Walker of Josephine County, Oregon Notification No. 699 has been established to a donation of one quarter section, or one hundred and sixty acres of land, and that the same has been surveyed and designated according, to the official plot of survey returned to the General Land Office by the Surveyor General, as the South West quarter of the South West quarter of section thirty-six, and the South East quarter of the South East quarter of section thirty-five in the Township Thirty-Four South of Range Six West and the East half of the North East quarter of section two in Township Thirty-Five South of Range Six West in the district of lands subject to sale at Roseburg, Oregon and containing in the aggregate one hundred and sixty-four acres and four hundredth of an acre. Now known ye. That the United States of America in consideration of the ?? and in conformity with the provisions of the act aforesaid, have given and granted and by these ?? do give and grant, unto the said Wesley R. Walker and to his heirs the tract of land above described, to have and to hold the said tract, with the ? unto the said Wesely R. Walker and to his heirs and assigns forever. In testimony whereof I, Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, have caused these letters to be made patent and the seal of the General Land Office to be here into affixed. Given under my hand at the City of Washington this twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, and of the Independence of the United States the ninety-first.
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