Some Historical and Biographical Notes:

Henry C. Phillips, Margaret Phillips, his wife: birth date of both is 1800.

James H. Bramwell, commonly known as "Harvey" Bramwell, was born near Madison, Indiana in 1813. He started on his trip to Oregon with his first wife, Lucy, and three children. Lucy died on the plains, while Harvey was attacked by rheumatism and laid helpless in the wagon for six weeks. The team was managed by the three small children, two of whom died on the way. They arrived in Oregon in 1851 and settled a claim the next year a mile or so north of Halsey.

Harvey was a carpenter and farmer, and married Adelade Martz April 3, 1856, in Linn County, the ceremony performed by the Rev. William Sperry of Brownsville. Adelade was born in north Virginia and came to Oregon in 1852. The train in which she came also included the Barnetts, Houstons, and Frums. They entered Oregon by ox team and crossed the Cascades by the Barlow pass.

William Shephard, born in 1821, was the man who established the Pine Grove cemetery. He and his family were also active in the establishment and construction of the Pine Grove Church.

The first recorded burial here is Thomas A., son of W. & M. Shephard; died 1853. The second recorded burial is Margaret, wife of Thomas Shephard, died Aug. 1853. Her birth date is 1791. Thomas Shepherd is the third recorded burial, died Oct. 15, 1853.

Richard Evans' birth date is 1798.

Margaret, wife of Henry A. McCartney. Her husband, Henry, owned the donation land claim on which the town of Peoria was founded. He first settled there in 1851.

Caleb Gray, 1819-1908. He was one fo the first elders of the "Harmony United Presbyterian Church" in 1856. This church was located a few miles north and west of the present city of Halsey.

James Martin, 1804 - 1870; another early birth date. His wife, Nancy, was born in 1794.

Sarah, wife of Alfred Allen, born 1797.

Lydia, wife of Amos Ramsey. She was a daughter-in-law of Barnett Ramsey who owned and operated the "Peoria Pottery" at a very early date.

Martin V. Koontz, a very early merchant at Halsey. The store established by Koontz & Lame is still in operation at Halsey (written in 1938).

Owen Bear, a pioneer of 1846. He took up land on the site of the old town of Burlington, (now gone) which was situated a mile north of Peoria. At Burlington, there was a store, a blacksmith shop and a brick yard. The brick yard was owned and run by Tom Blevins, commonly known as "Deaf Tom." H. Rudd ran the store at Burlington. Owen's wife, Margaret, was also an early settler. When they first located at Burlington, the Indians were very troublesome. Margaret would sit at her work of churning with her revolver beside her for protection.

Rebecca Gilworth, a birth date of 1795.

Harry L. Rudd, 1821 - 1892. Owned and operated the store at Burlington. His wife was Lydia A. Morrison, and they married November 18, 1848 in Cass County, Michigan.

Rufus Bamford, an early pioneer resident of Halsey.

Abner B. Clingman, born 1797, died 1895, wife Cornelia.

James R. Frady, born in Iowa. He came to Oregon when six years old, and was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Owen Bear.

Elizabeth T., wife of John P. Smith. Her husband's grave was not located, but he was one of the first elders of the Harmony United Presbyterian Church, organized in 1856.

Rev. Philip McWilliam Starr, 1825 - 1906, one of the early Methodist Episcopal circuit riders in Linn County. He married Anne Dimmick.

Jos. Earl, Oregon Indian War Veteran, Company C, Oregon Infantry.

Thomas B. Brandon, 1838 - 1908, brother of Alex Brandon, partner in the milling ventures of R. C. Finley of Crawfordsville and Boston Mill.

© 1998 - 2007 Jan Phillips