General Notes

~~ from www.collver.org

Alfred Bainbridge Collver (Culver) (b. 12 Dec 1819, Warrensville Ohio) His mother Philura Brown supposedly died at his birth, & his father remarried Brazilda Rosalin Cook. It is unclear as to whether she passed away at Alfred's birth or at the birth of a later child. The family left Ohio in 1839 & moved to Tipton Iowa. He met Ruth Rice (b. 29 Oct. 1827, Mantua Ohio) on the wagon train to Iowa & married her 13 July 1845.

He purchased lots from Carl George and K. Vanderburgh in June of 1849. The deeds showed that he owned over 100 acres and that certificates were signed by President James K. Polk. It is interesting to note that he also bought land from a John & Emily Vanderburgh, his sister was Emily and was married to a John Vanderburgh, so it is a good bet that was his sister and brother in law. The Federal Census records of Sept. 1850 showed Alfred and his family living at Center Township, Cedar Co., Iowa, & apparently lived next door to his brother Orris (Orace) Culver. It also showed he was a farmer with a real property value of $800.

In the will of Gabriel Collver, there was a glaring absence of Alfred in the will. His father in law, Beckwith Cook and Alfred's brother Orace (married to Lucy Ann Cook) are listed as the executors of the estate. Orace was placed as legal guardian of the younger siblings.

Their first born daughter, Mary Philura (b. August 16 1846) died in 1849.... After the birth of their daughter Henrietta (1848) & son Ansel, (July 15, 1850), Alfred must have started to plan to go across the Great Plains of America. The reasons for going farther west are not known, but some sort of family falling out may have taken place as suggested by Orace being listed as executor of Gabriel's will. Or it may have had to do with the fact that Alfred & Ruth were traveling with Ruth's parents and many of her natural and step siblings. He may have used the proceeds of the will & land sales for the trip as the preparations were expensive, & materials had to be selected with great care. The lives of the entire family depended on good durable equipment, & an adequate amount of food. At last all was in readiness & the family set out for the Great Oregon Country. Their children were 1 and 3. Alfred sold 15 acres back to Carl George in 1851. They left in late spring 1851

The train consisted of 10 families & possibly 38 individuals.
1. Beckwith Cook & Mary Rice with 3 children.
2. Seley Mansfield Cook & Nancy B. Rice with 3 children (1 born enroute)
3. Joel B. Cook & Mary E. Rice with 1 child.
4. Alfred B. Collver & Ruth Rice with 3 children (Adelia was born in enroute ).
5. Linus Bushnell & Lucinda Rice with 5 children (1 born enroute).
6. Hoarce Rice & Eliza Bolton with 1 child.
7. Abraham Cutlip & Harriet E. Cook.
8. Absalom Bolton & Olivia Bolton (cousins)
9. Daniel Bolton & Elizabeth
10. Henry B. Smith & Sophia A. Cook with 2 children (1 born enroute).

Many of these families are related to each other through marriage. Beckwith Cook was the wagon master. Mormons wanted a tithing & Beckwith said no, that they were only wintering.

The Bushnells & Hoarce Rice separated at Bridger Wyoming and onto Fort Boise, pushed on to the Dalles & Oregon City. The rest went to Salt Lake City or Provo and were late getting to the Rockies. Ruth was expecting another child so they wintered in Provo. The next spring they were again on the trail in an Oxen Drawn covered wagon, arriving in Oregon.

In Alfred's youth the Oregon Territory was under joint control of the British and US, with the only inhabitants of Oregon until 1838 being fur trappers for the Hudson Bay Company. Next came the missionaries followed by the settlers. The Hudson company & the missionaries were against forming a territory government, but not so the settlers. They had visions of statehood, but were successfully blocked unless they could get more settlers to come there. They actively went out to advertise Oregon & recruit wagon trains to come there. They espoused the riches of Oregon & its ample farmlands and as a result large wagon trains headed out and was dubbed the "Great Reinforcement". They were able to tip the balance at next meeting and force the issue to be a US territory and set up a government. Washington started a new policy of issuing donation claims to fuel the westward expansion to the Oregon country to guarantee US control over the area.

Iowa and Missouri became jump off points for westward expansion, & many families that came across the plains stayed at one of the two places for a short while. Life must have been hard in Iowa (winters especially) such that Oregon sounded as a much better alternative. Salt Lake was another popular point on the Oregon trail, as the trail split off North to Oregon and south to California. It was also a wintering site before attempting a crossing of the deserts and mountains to the west. When Alfred arrived in Utah, the Mormons had been there only 3 or 4 years, but it was said that the Mormons treated the family very well. Adelia Emily Collver (b.17 Jan 1852) was born in Utah.

Accounts of the travels of the Rices and Cooks as they headed for Oregon (They left Iowa at about the same time) mention a lot of hardships & death along the Oregon Trail. I don't have anything in particular on Alfred's journey unfortunately as his diary was destroyed in a fire in Empire City (Coos Bay) Oregon in the late 1800's.

In 1852 they arrived in the Portland in a caravan of about 50 wagons. A man offered to trade Alfred 640 acres of land (in what is present day East Portland) for the 28 oxen that he had driven in. He was going to sign the papers the next morning, but there had been a frost. He decided to push on southwards instead, in search of a warmer climate. Supposedly he had a relative in the area of the Dalles, but this is uncertain, but is possible because the Rices and Cooks also headed west. He also had brothers or sister that headed west, but it is unclear where they went.

They settled on a donation land claim near Looking Glass Valley, 10 miles southwest of Roseburg Oregon. The certificate showed that they settled the claim certificate 291, on August 31, 1852, 321.07 acres, on sections 10 & 11 T27S, R7W. Donation claims were very popular about then, as an incentive to get people to move west. It was like homesteading, in which you could lay claim to so many acres, as long as you agreed to live on it and produce a certain quantity of produce from it.

They had settled on land that had been previously occupied but abandoned. In turn he sold the land to the Fourneys & the land was there after referred to as French Camp. The Williams were their neighbors & their daughter Clara later married Alfred's son Andrew.

According to the Peterson-Powers book, Alfred is mentioned along with Lionel Bushnell in the diary of John Alva Harry. He indicates that in 1854, He explored the headwaters of the Coquille and in 1856 they formed the Coquille Guard for the Indian war.

Son William Albert Collver was born May 14, 1855 at Sitkum, an Indian Fort during the 1855-56 Indian War, near Melrose area of Douglas County. Apparently the original family homestead stood as late as 1954. According to Myrtice Collver, Alfred on his way to the grist mill, became separated from his party while being chased by Umpqua Indians. Now supposedly he ended up on the Rogue River and worked his way up the Coast to Coos Bay. Now this was a long journey, and a rather difficult one too. It is true the Rogue Indians were fierce, and the Coquille were a bit rough as well. I believe the Umpqua were warlike as well. The Coos Indians however, were a rather peaceful group. It is said that Alfred came across what was then one of the first homesteads in Marshfield, & he decided that he like the place so much that he decided to move there.

A little Coos and Curry county history: The first major white party to visit the south coast of Oregon, was the Jedediah Smith expedition in June of 1828. It consisted of 18 men and 300 pack animals, and they moved up the Oregon coast trapping for furs. They encountered many of the tribes along the Coast, but were largely unharassed. The area from Bandon to Coos Bay in what was later called Seven Devils, was virtually impassable, and they were only able to travel a couple of miles a day. When they reached the Umpqua, they were attacked by Indians there & only 3 men escaped, one of them Jedediah Smith. The Hudson Bay Company recovered the furs & supposedly punished the Indians, although there was speculation they had put the Indians up to it, to drive off American trappers.

In June of 1851, the unsuccessful "first" settlement by Captain Tiechnor of Port Orford, resulted in the fight at Battle Rock, the party escaped to the Mouth of the Umpqua where a fort was located. Teichnor tried again that same year and 6 months later troops "Dragoons" were sent from Benecia California to provide protection. The ship carrying the Dragoons, "The Captain Lincoln" ran into a storm and beached at the North Spit of Coos Bay. The rescue parties from Roseburg and Winchester were suprized by the land in Coos Bay and set about to raise a company to settle it.

The Community of Jacksonville (near Medford) at that time was frustrated with lack of markets for their goods. So they pushed for opening of the Coos and Coquille Rivers to provide them with a seaport, & thus access to San Francisco. They fostered the settlements of Coos County by encouraging people to move there and giving it an image of a land of plenty. A sort of fever broke out over Coos Bay & a number of people gave up their claims and headed for Coos Bay.

By 1855, a war broke out with the Indians along the Rogue River. A group of settlers calling themselves a militia, attacked a settlement of Indians west of Jacksonville, OR, killing many innocent women & children. Chief John was outraged and swept through the valley, wiping out many homesteads from Table Rock, Applegate & Galice. The Indians had the advantage in the first few months of the war, but the settlers organized & formed militia units from places as far away as Portland, Salem, Winchester, Roseburg, Marshfield, Jacksonville & Gold Beach. It seems as though most adult males during that time served for at least 1 campaign, which was about 3 to 4 months in length, then were discharged.

They wore the Indians down in a series of short but violent battles. Coos County was largely spared the wide spread bloodshed that Curry County endured as every single homestead was burnt to the ground. The Coquille Indians were not very violent, but of course the locals formed a militia & attacked the Indians encampment near present day Bandon Oregon. A unit was formed in Coos Bay & a contingent was sent to help the people of Coquille. At the end of the war, all the Indians were gathered from the south coast & put onto a reservation on the Umpqua. The Umpqua, Coosus, Coquille & Tatuni never received an official treaty with the US Government & they eventually drifted away into extinction.

Alfred settled his claim in 1852 then was said that he blazed an Indian trail into the head waters of South Coos River & brought in the first Dairy Cattle. This comes from several sources (dates differ, ranging from 1853 to 1857), but most sources agree that he blazed the trail, brought the cattle in the early 1850's then brought the family in 1857. He apparently purchased the cattle in Roseburg & drove them over this trail.

My hypothesis is that he was blazing the trail, brought in the cattle, while leaving the family in Looking Glass. He fought in the 1855-56 Indian wars leaving the family at Fort Sitkum. After the war he brought the family to Coos River. This is based on the birth data on William Albert & an 1878 land grant received for military service in the 1855 and 1856 Indian War, issued by the government.

The herd consisted of Durham cows, which formed a large part of the cattle population & was later bred with Jerseys. The land was purchased from James Gordon & was later sold by Alfred to become the R.G. Rooke farm at the forks of Coos River. I think research of the 1855-56 war may clear some of this up, but material is rather scarce & review of the muster sheets, he hasn't appeared in any of the rosters of the troops from that period. The date on the deed for service coincides with when Congress actually got around to paying people for their service (It took almost 20 years). It could be that the deed was transferred to him by another person who served (It was common for people to sell their land grants) or he actually performed service but it wasn't documented, another although unlikely possibility is that he falsely obtained the land. If he did serve, did he serve in one of the Roseburg, Winchester, or Coos Bay troops?

An interesting distant relative was living near Alfred in the Medford area at the exact same time. Samuel Culver, he was a prominent figure in the early settlement in Oregon. He was born and raised in Ohio at about the same time as Alfred, then went off to fight in Texas. When he came back he moved onto Oregon South of Medford in a the town of Phoenix. He settled what is now the oldest home in Jackson County, and what is known as the Culver house. It served as a fort during the Indian War and as center of activity for the local community during peaceful times. He was apparently a rather eccentric character who liked to make up short rhymes, limericks and such, and read them to all that would hear (whether they wanted to hear it or not). He served as Indian agent for a short time prior to the 1855-56 Indian War and was a holder of a large amount of real estate. His only son was fatally wounded by a neighbor over a case of mistaken identity. He himself died a mysterious and violent death... He was found drowned along the Rogue river after riding out alone. He was known to have some enemies and there was rumor of land swindles, but nothing was ever proven.

Coos Bay was indeed a land of plenty, it was very difficult to starve there around that time. The lakes, rivers & Ocean were loaded with fish, the shores with shell-fish. Due to the annual rainfall in excess of 100 inches a year, there was lots of brushes containing berries and edible roots which in turn feed a lot of Deer, Elk & other wild game. The Indians that lived there were very peaceful & were well fed, & many had never traveled more than 10 miles from their village, as everything they wanted was near by. The climate was cool & mild, very few frosts thus ideal for dairy farming.

According to "A History of Coos and Curry Counties", Alfred came to Coos River in 1853, bringing the first dairy cattle with him. Thus his herd was to have great impact on the later Famous Dairy cattle of Coos County. It is said that he purchased the Cattle in the Willamette valley before coming to Coos County. Why Dairy cattle? The region in Ohio that he came from was also a dairy center, so maybe he had a familiarity with it? It is said, Alfred brought the family over 4 years later from Looking Glass in 1857.

The September 13, 1860 Census shows the family living at Empire Township, Coos Co., OR, occupation laborer, Real property $0 and Pers Property of $1500. A homestead certificate 2187 recorded in 1862, shows lots 2, 3 and W 1/2 of NW 1/4 section 11, T26S, R14W, totaling 152.12 acres in Alfred's name.

The first Church (United Brethren) on Coos River was helped organized by Alfred as well as helping to organize the first public school in the county, district #1 on the Coos River. The school was located where the Coos River cemetery is now situated. It was a one room school with 40 pupils. School lasted for the 3 months of summer. By 1906 the school term was 6 months. A deed was recorded on January 28, 1867 for a mortgage of 902.87, the note was "fully satisfied" on February 1, 1871. The June 15, 1870 Census again shows the family at Empire Township, Coos Co. OR. Did the census people just place the people to the County seat as Empire was at the time, even though they lived up Coos River? The census showed that they had Real Property at $7,000 and Personal Property at $2,500 and his occupation was farmer. A series of deeds show Alfred buying & selling land with in the same year in and around Marshfield. This occurred from 1874 to 1878.

From "Coos Bay, the pioneer period 1851-1890", by Stephen Dow Beckham comes the following:

Alfred B. Collver, a pioneer of Douglas County who moved to the lower reaches of the South Fork of the Coos River in 1857, was one of those who contributed to agricultural development in the region. On his ranch, the former James Gordon homestead, Collver planted the largest orchard in Coos County. Within 8 years of planting his orchard, he was ready to market his fruit, and, if necessary, to devise methods of getting it most adequately to the consumer. Collver initially considered constructing a Plummer Fruit Dryer on his property so that he could dehydrate his apple crop and pack it for shipment. That he needed some special assistance in the pre-refrigeration era was evident. In 1874, his first year of the harvest, Collver shipped 7000 boxes of apples to San Fransico. His neighbor, Anson Rogers, had shipped out 2500 as well.

By the fall of 1876 Collver had purchased the Alden patent for a fruit dryer and commenced construction of a four story building on a hillside on his ranch just below the mouth of Daniels Creek

His purchase of the machinery & patent rights for it use put Collver not only in the forefront of fruit drying methods but brought an agent of the Alden firm to Coos Bay to superintend construction of the building & the installation of the machinery. So well did Collver's fruit dryer work that it enabled him to capture much of the processing business for fruits and vegetables grown in the area. By 1877 he had become an agent for the Alden dryer in southwest Oregon and offered to establish a plant in the Coquille Valley "on reasonable terms" for the orchardist who ventured to become a fruit processor and shipper. In 1877 Collver's production was 4000 boxes of apples; he received 67 1/2 cents a box. During the year he estimated his overall fruit output at 250 tons, most of which he prepared for market in his Alden Dryer. He sold the dried fruit to retailers for 16 cents a pound.

Collver disposed of his ranch, dryer, apple house, and orchards in the early 1880's to a William A. Luse, son of Henry H. Luse of Empire. Luse, who was deeply involved in steamboat and steam tug transportation on the bay, did not devote himself to the continued development of fruit drying and production on the ranch.

Hurley Collver, Alfred's grandson related that Alfred lost a large shipment of fruit, about 7000 boxes to a shipwreck of the N. California coast, as this was his major income for the year and there wasn't insurance, he was forced to borrow from William Luse against the factory. Another tragedy a couple of years later occurred when a barge of fruit on its way to the ship, upon exiting the mouth of Coos River was swamped by high winds and waves from the North West. It wasn't until several years later that another load was lost, putting Alfred into financial jeopardy, thus Luse foreclosed on the factory. The ranch and orchard were sold later to Mr. Rooke. The Orchard consisted of over 1200 fruit trees.

In 1878, Alfred received a deed from the US Govt an assignment from James Jordan for military service in the Rogue River of 1855. It totaled 188 acres and another deed for 44 acres. He in turn mortgaged the property. In July 7, 1880 Census, it shows the family living at Coos River Precinct, Coos Co. OR, and again as a farmer. In 1884 Alfred and Henrietta (his daughter?) moved from the Coos River area down to the lower bay at Catching Inlet establishing homesteads (T26S, R14, Section 11 or 23??).

The 1900 Federal Census shows Ruth Collver age 72, as head of household & renting a home in Marshfield & living with a couple of the Grandchildren. Alfred & his sons worked a homestead at South Bay near William's Pt. which is now a state wildlife refuge. Apparently they lived apart the later 10-15 years. It is rumored that she said that she would not go another step west, & refused to move to South Bay. At her age, it was probably not to wise to live the rough pioneer life. It was also about then that Sarah died & she cared for a few of the younger Grandchildren. If they were estranged, it is unknown, but if they were, then divorce was probably out of the question as it was frowned up in the "Victorian" society of the late 1800's and early 1900's. Apparently Henrietta did move out to South Bay with her father and brothers. Apparently both Henrietta and William were extremely short and in fact considered Dwarfish. This may explain Henrietta's lack of a husband in an area notoriously short on available women (but that of course is speculation).

The following was in a book called "Coos River Echoes" located at the Pioneer Museum in North Bend OR.

ALFRED BAINBRIDGE COLLVER, of Scotch Irish descent, crossed the plains with his wife Ruth Rice, whom he married in Iowa in 1852. They first settled on a donation claim near Roseburg. Collver blazed an Indian trail into the headwaters of South Coos River in 1857. He then bought homestead rights from James Gordon. This land in now known as the R.G. Rooke farm. The patent which Collver received for the place bears the date June 15, 1864 and the signature of Abraham Lincoln. The patent which Collver received May 1, 1869 for adjoining 44.5 acres was by President U.S. Grant. AB Collver was a brother of Emily Vanderburgh, who came to the river area in 1865; his wife was kin to Chloe Harry Laird, who lived in Coquille valley.

Alfred was among those who helped organize the first public school in the county, in a district numbered 1, which was Coos River. He helped organize the first church (United Brethren) on Coos River. Over the blazed trail he brought some of the first dairy cattle to the lush valley.

Ruth Collver took pride in her Herb garden and often collaborated with Dr. Jonathon Hodson, also an herbalist, in caring for the sick.

11 children were born to the Collvers. The 3 youngest, Andrew, Howard, and Tillo, were born on Coos River. Philura died when she was two years old before the family left Iowa. A.M. resided in Forest Grove. Adelia (Mrs. Isaac Powell) lived in Tygh Valley; she had 10 children. Orace made his home in Crook County.

William Albert, born in 1855 in an Indian fort near Melrose, came to Coos River when he was two. He married Naomi Stiennon (Stiennon Creek; near Fairview, was named for her father) and their children were Myrtle (Mrs. Roy Douglas), and Josephine who married Fred Messerle, a grandson of the Charles Eckhoffs who at one time owned the land which the city of North Bend was built.

John married Emma Armfield (a sister of Mrs. Stambuck) and they had 2 children--Clarence and Lora (Mrs. (* rest of the article is missing*)

From Orville Dodge in "Pioneers History of Coos and Curry Counties (circa 1898) writes of the Collvers:

COLLVER, RUTH (Rice) was born in Mantua, Portage Co., Ohio, Oct. 29, 1827, and her husband was born in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio. Dec. 12, 1819. They arrived in Oregon July 3, 1852, but came to Coos Co., & settled on Coos river, Aug. 7 1857. Her maiden name was Rice and her children are Henrietta, 49; Ansel M., 47; Adelia C., 46; Orace G., 44; Wm. Albert, 43; John T., 41; Sarah D., 38; Andrew F., 35; Arthur Howard, 31; Tillo M. Her Husband planted the first fruit trees ever planted in Coos Co., and also assisted in establishing the first school and church privileges, sharing his home with the preachers and all Christians who wished to gospel.

Hurley Monroe Collver commented that Grandfather Alfred was asked to input a chapter into the book, but he refused, as apparently there was a fee to do so, and he felt that since he was doing all the work, he should be paid, instead of paying. Orville Dodge's book consists of family essays in which people paid for to help finance the printing. Most of the crops at that time were potatoes and fruits, an entry in Orville Dodges Pioneer History of Coos and Curry County states "A.B. Collver shipped nearly 7 thousand boxes of apples last year to San Fransisco besides what potatoes he sent from the south fork of the Coos River. The Collvers set up some of the first Fruit Drying Kilns for exporting fruit to San Francisco. The Dairy cattle were used for local consumption of milks, cheeses and butter. Ships would pull into port and load up on Lumber, potatoes, fruits and local food crops then head south. Apparently potato farming declined within about 10-20 years due to soil wear. The Collver Dried Fruit business went up in flames and was sold off, as was the Cape Arago properties to a Mr. Simpson (Of Simpson Lumber Fame ). In the 1890's, dairy became king of the County and the local dairies formed co-ops. Several of his sons became well known dairymen in the area.

Alfred Collver contracted cancer of the face and received word that treatment was available at Independence, Polk Co., OR. He was unable to travel by coach because of his condition, so he walked the distance to Independence. At age 82, he passed away on May 7, 1902 at Independence at the Buena Vista Cemetery, space 55, near his mother-in-law and other relatives. The probate of AB Collver was filed by John T. Collver as petitioner. He left no will & the estate was appraised at $300b (real property W 1/2 of NW 1/4, and lot 2 & 3, section 11, T26S, R14W.). Ruth mortgaged the property and lost it to foreclosure. Ruth Rice Collver, age 75, passed away September 18, 1903 at Daniels Creek Oregon and was buried in the Collver family plot at the Coos River cemetery.

Children of Alfred & Ruth:

Mary Philura Collver, b 16 Aug. 1846, Tipton Iowa
Henrietta Mathilda Collver, b. 1848, Tipton Iowa
Ansel Mark Collver, b 15 Jul. 1850, Tipton Iowa
Adelia Emily Collver, b 1852, Salt Lake City Utah
Orace Gabriel Collver, b 16 Feb. 1854, Looking Glass OR
William Albert Collver, b 14 May 1855, Melrose OR
John Truman Collver, b 15 Feb. 1857, Noti OR
Sarah Dewey Collver, b 3 Nov. 1869, S. Coos River OR
Andrew Freeman, b 26 Jun. 1863, S. Coos River OR
Arthur Howard Collver, b 9 Apr. 1866, S. Coos River OR
Arthillo Monroe Collver, b 21 Oct. 1869, S. Coos River OR

~~ from Rommie Walker's history:

Alfred B. Collver age 33 was born in 1819 in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, wife Ruth (Rice) Collver age 24, dau. of William K. Rice & Mary (Pettingill) Rice was born in Portage Co., Ohio on October 29, 1827. This family settled on DLC # 291 near Melrose/Lookingglass in Douglas County. Signers of the affidavit were not listed. Children;
1. Henrietta Mathilda Collver, age 3, b. Aug. 7, 1848, Cedar County, Iowa.
2. Ansel Mark Collver, infant, b. 1851, Cedar County, Iowa, Md. Dora McCullock.
3. Adelia Emily Collver, b. January 17, 1852, on the Oregon Trail in Provo or Salt lake City, Utah. Md. Isaac Jamison Powell.
Other children born after arriving in Oregon are:
4. Arthillo Monroe Collver, b Oct 21, 1869, South Coos River, Coos Bay, OR.
5. Orace Gabriel Collver, b Feb. 16, 1854, West Lookingglass, Douglas County, OR.
6. William Albert Collver, b May 5, 1855, Melrose, Douglas Co. OR. Married Neomi Steinon, b. Kansas City.
7. John Truman Collver, b Feb 15, 1857, Noti Valley, Lane Co. OR. Married Emma Armfield.
8. Andrew Freeman Collver, b. June 26, 1863, S Coos River, Coos Co. OR. Married Clara Williams b. Douglas Co. OR Oct 27, 1871.
9. Arthur Howard Collver, b 1867, S Coos River, Coos Co.
10. Sarah Dewey Collver, b Nov. 3, 1860, South Coos River, Coos Co., OR

The Collvers had 11 children, Mary Philura Collver was born in Cedar Co., Iowa & died from Scarlet Fever when about 2 years old before 1850.

DLC records Alfred Collver arrived in Oregon, July 1851. He claimed DLC # 291 near Lookingglass OR. His wife Ruth had a child born Jan 1, 1852 in Utah. If Alfred arrived in Oregon in July 1851, his family was still on the trail. Date of arrival maybe in error or he may have traveled ahead of his family. Horace Rice, Absalom Bolton, Daniel Bolton & John Harry probably did leave the main party in Wyoming and arrived in Oregon City in Oct 1851. It is more probable that Alfred arrived in July 1852 as that is the time the main party arrived. Other information indicates he had 28 head of oxen he drove from the East & was offered 620 acres of land in East Portland in trade. He did not make the trade & moved further south to Douglas Co.

Alfred Collver first settled in Douglas County. A Collver family story passed down through the generations is in 1854; Alfred Collver was on his way from Lookingglass to the gristmill in Tenmile when Umpqua Indians attacked the party. Alfred became separated from the others & possibly lost. He made his way to the Rouge River & then followed it to the coast. He then made the trek north to what was then Marshfield where the first cabin was being built at the time. He liked the country. He returned to his home near Lookingglass & 4 years later moved his family to the area. In the 4 months he was gone from home his family did not know if he was alive or dead.

Alfred Collver moved his family to Stock Slough in Coos County near the South Coos River in 1857. He purchased a herd of cattle near Roseburg & drove them over the Roseburg Trail to Coos County & these cattle were some of the first in Coos County. He assisted with starting the first school and church privileges in the county as well.

AB Collver passed away while on a trip to Buena Vista, OR May 7, 1902.  RR Collver passed on Sept 19, 1903 in Coos Co, OR.  ~~

  Death Notes

Alfred had gone to Independence to seek medical treatment when he died

  Burial Notes

Buena Vista Cemetery

  Recorded Events in His Life

• He worked as a farmer and dairyman in Coos County, Oregon, USA. ^{5 10} He was said to have raised the first fruit trees, and to have brought one of the first dairy herds to Coos County, and to have shipped the first dried fruit to San Francisco (where it found a ready market).

• Essay: A brief biography of Alfred Bainbridge Collver.
  
  ALFRED BAINBRIDGE COLLVER was born 12 Dec 1819 in Warrensville Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the son of Gabriel Culver and Philura Brown.  He was of Scotch Irish descent.  Alfred crossed the plains with his wife Ruth Rice, whom he married in Iowa in 1845. They first settled on a donation claim near Roseburg, in Douglas County, Oregon. Collver blazed an Indian trail into the headwaters of South Coos River in 1857. He then bought homestead rights from James Gordon. This land in now known as the R.G. Rooke farm. The patent which Collver received for the place bears the date June 15, 1864 and the signature of Abraham Lincoln. The patent which Collver received May 1, 1869 for adjoining 44.5 acres was signed by President U.S. Grant.
  
  Alfred was a pioneer of Coos River.  He brought the first dairy cattle to the region, and planted the first orchard. Within 8 years of planting his orchard, he was ready to market his fruit, and, if necessary, to devise methods of getting it most adequately to the consumer. Collver initially considered constructing a Plummer Fruit Dryer on his property so that he could dehydrate his apple crop and pack it for shipment. That he needed some special assistance in the pre-refrigeration era was evident. In 1874, his first year of the harvest, Collver shipped 7000 boxes of apples to San Francisco.
  
  Alfred was among those who helped organize the first public school in the county, in a district numbered 1, which was Coos River. He helped organize the first church (United Brethren) on Coos River.
  
  His wife Ruth Collver took pride in her Herb garden and often collaborated with Dr. Jonathon Hodson, also an herbalist, in caring for the sick.
  
  11 children were born to the Collvers. The 3 youngest, Andrew, Howard, and Tillo, were born on Coos River.
  
  Alfred Collver contracted cancer of the face and received word that treatment was available at Independence, Polk County, Oregon. He was unable to travel by coach because of his condition, so he walked the distance from Coos River to Independence. At age 82, he passed away on May 7, 1902 at Independence.  He is buried at the Buena Vista Cemetery, space 55, near his mother-in-law and other relatives. 
  
  — bio written for FindAGrave, kmh.

• He appeared on the 1820 US Federal Census on 7 August 1820 in Warrensville Township, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA. ⁷
  
  1820 census — Gabriel Colvier household:
  Warrensville, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA
  1, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, (8 blanks), 3
  
  1 male under 10 [Alfred]
  1 male 16-26 [Gabriel]
  1 female 16-26 [Philura]
  1 person engaged in agriculture
  household total: 3

• He appeared on the 1850 US Federal Census on 10 September 1850 in Center, Cedar County, Iowa, USA. ¹¹ Center, Cedar County, Iowa, USA (Alfred Culver, age 30)

• Moved: Started westward, 1851.

• He appeared on the 1860 US Federal Census in 1860 in Empire, Coos County, Oregon, USA.

• He appeared on the 1870 US Federal Census on 16 June 1870 in Empire, Coos County, Oregon, USA. ⁶
  
  AB Collver       50
  Ruth Collver       42
  Henrietta Collver       21
  Ansel Collver       19
  Horace G Collver       16
  Albert W Collver       15
  John S Collver       13
  Sarah D Collver       9
  Andrew F Collver       6
  A Howard Collver       4
  Arthillo Collver       8/12

• He appeared on the 1880 US Federal Census on 7 June 1880 in Coos River, Coos County, Oregon, USA. ¹² Coos River, Coos County, Oregon, USA (age 60)
  
  

Name  Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
 Alfred B. COLLVER   Self   M   Male   W   60   OH   Farm
 Ruth COLLVER   Wife   M   Female   W   53   OH   Keeping House   NY   ME
 Henrietta COLLVER   Dau   S   Female   W   32   IA   At Ho
 Orace G. COLLVER   Son   S   Male   W   26   OR   Works On Farm   OH   OH
 Albert COLLVER   Son   S   Male   W   25   OR   Works On Fa
 John T. COLLVER   Son   S   Male   W   23   OR   Works On Farm   OH   OH
 Sarah P. COLLVER   Dau   S   Female   W   19   OR   At Ho
 Andrew COLLVER   Son   S   Male   W   16   OR   In School   OH   OH
 Howard A. COLLVER   Son   S   Male   W   14   OR   In Scho
 Arthur COLLVER   Son   S   Male   W   10   OR   In School   OH   OH
1880 Census Place: Coos River, Coos, Oregon


Database: 1880 United States Federal Census
Name Parents or spouse Home in 1880 (City,County,State) Est.Birth Year Birthplace Relation

Albert COLLVER     Alfred B. COLLVER,Ruth COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1855>     Oregon     Son
Alfred B. COLLVER     Ruth COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1820>     Ohio     Self
Andrew COLLVER     Alfred B. COLLVER, Ruth COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1864>     Oregon     Son
Arthur COLLVER     Alfred B. COLLVER, Ruth COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1870>     Oregon     Son
Henrietta COLLVER     Alfred B. COLLVER, Ruth COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1848>     Iowa     Daughter
Howard A. COLLVER     Alfred B. COLLVER, Ruth COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1866>     Oregon     Son
John T. COLLVER     Alfred B. COLLVER, Ruth COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1857>     Oregon     Son
Orace G. COLLVER     Alfred B. COLLVER, Ruth COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1854>     Oregon     Son
Ruth COLLVER     Alfred B. COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1827>     Ohio     Wife
Sarah P. COLLVER     Alfred B. COLLVER, Ruth COLLVER     Coos River, Coos, OR     <1861>     Oregon     Daughter

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• Gallery: The Alfred Bainbridge Collver family, about 1885, in Coos County, Oregon, USA.

• He was buried at the Buena Vista Cemetery in Buena Vista, Polk County, Oregon, USA in 1902.