Thursday, April 6, 1972
Kate Turner, librarian at the Illinois Valley Branch of the Josephine County Library, had visitors Easter Sunday. Her son Noel and wife Kate drove down from Days Creek to spend this special day with his mother. Other guests at Kate’s home were her sister Lorna Byrne, and her grandson Mike Vitto and his wife Barbara and little daughter Misha from Ashland. Kate has been ill, and to make the day easier for her, her daughter-in-law cooked the complete dinner in her portable electric oven, and on their arrival, plugged in the oven, and served the hot meal to Kate’s guests.
Roland and Maxine Tresham, Holland Loop Road, also had Easter guests. Their daughter Vanita and her husband Troy Newell of Grants Pass came Saturday evening so the grandchildren Dena and Ronnie could be up early for their Easter egg hunt. Roland and Maxine enjoyed coloring and hiding the several dozen eggs and the children had fun hunting them.
Ward and Ione Wilson were away on a trip to California for nearly two weeks, and returned home just before Easter so they could attend the Easter service at the Bridgeview Church. While in Sunnyvale they visited their son Claude and daughter-in-law Gwenneth, granddaughter Claudia, and great granddaughter Tracy. The Wilsons planned their vacation to coincide with the California school vacation, so they would have time to visit their daughter Lorna and son-in-law John Sailer, who are teachers at the Monte Vista Christian School located near Watsonville. During their stay in California Ward and Ione were happy to see both of their children, eight grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.
Dr. and Mrs. Charles N. Versteeg were delighted to have their son Captain Charles N. Versteeg visit them and his brothers, Ronald and Maurice, for three days last week. Thursday, Mrs. Versteeg took Charles to Ashland to see his sister Sara. Saturday, he flew from Medford to Portland to have a short visit with his sister Linda. Captain Versteeg received his diploma from University of Oregon Medical School in Portland and interned in the Ramsey Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is now in the Air Force, stationed at the MacDill Regional base near Tampa, Florida.
Phayo and I have welcome visitors this week. Sunday afternoon a blue and white Cessna flew over our house and the wing tipped, which was the signal for us to go to the airport across from the Rough and Ready Mill. The plane also tipped its wings over the home of Osmond and Margaret Henry. The pilot was our brother, David Flaherty from Pullman, Washington. With him in the plane were his three daughters, Kathleen, Laurie, and Kelley. They reported a good trip all the way and were especially impressed with the beauty of Crater Lake from the air at this time of year. David said the water looked almost purple, with some white reflections of the clouds. Wizard Island appeared to be an ice cream cone rising out of the deep colored water.
Jackson County originally included the territory which now comprises Josephine County. A short account of the beginning of things is in order. Jackson County was created January 12, 1852, out of the territory lying south of Douglas County, comprising the Rogue River Valley and the territory west to the Pacific Ocean. Its boundaries have several times been changed by adding a portion of Wasco, and taking it from the county of Josephine January 22, 1856. Its area is something less than that of Curry or Jackson, which between it lies. At that time only a small portion of land had been surveyed. The amount of cultivated land was not over 20,000 acres and the valuation of taxable property was not over $400,000. This statement was reported about the new county: “Yet this county has a good portion of fertile land and an admirable climate with picturesque scenery to make it fit for settlement, and only its seclusion from line of travel, and facilities of education and society has prevented it becoming more populous. Mining is the chief vocation of its 2,500 people.”