The Pioneers
The Dibbles
Horace and Julia Dibble were among Molalla's first residence, and their house is the centerpiece of the MAHS. Click HERE to learn more.
In 1853, the Sawtell family harvested their first crop of teasel. The family's farm was the only producer of teasel (an essential for processing wool) west of New York. The last crop of Oregon teasel was harvested in 1899 (by this time metal nappers had replaced teasel burrs in wool processing). In 1979, Virginia Sawtell Gooding, a descendant, gave a talk to the Dibble House relating her early experiences growing up in Molalla.
Click HERE to read her account.
Click here to see the Sawtell Photos
While the Palmers did not live in Molalla, they offered their pioneer era family album for us to view. Many outstanding images dating back to the 1800's and early 1900's. Click the icon to view the images.
Molalla is fortunate to have a number of historic buildings and homes that have been well maintained over the years. We can thank Gail McCormick for her work in documenting these wonderful buildings, presented here.
And, if you feel up for a walk, you're invited check the listings here, or to stop by the MAHS and pick up the Molalla Walking Tour guide, that will help you to find these historic treasures.
The Eby School project was started by Margaret Branson Anderson) who, along with her twin sister, attended the school in the early 1940's. Her mother also was a student there. The school was built in 1909 on the property of John Eby, and remained in operation until 1962. The project has been to collect photos and stories of the people who attended over the years.
Click to view the Eby School Project
The Dibbles
The Sawtells
The Palmers
Self Guided Tours
The Eby School Project
Do you have more pioneers to add? Let us know, and provide us the details!
PIONEERS OF THE MOLALLA AREA
Earliest Non-Native Permanent Settlers in the Molalla Area
Year Settled Names How Land Was Settled
PLC=Provisional Land Claim
DLC=Donation Land Claim
1844 1 William H. & Susan M. Vaughan PLC & DLC
1845 2 Harrison & Lavina Wright PLC & DLC
1846 James & Evaline Officer PLC & DLC
1846 William & Elizabeth Russell PLC & DLC
1846 3 William & Martha Engle PLC & DLC
1846 John K. & Martha Dickey PLC & DLC
1846 Alfred & Olive Marquam PLC & DLC
1846 4 Richard & Cynthia Howard PLC & DLC
1846 Michael & Malvina Whitlock PLC & DLC
1847 William & Julia Bunton PLC & DLC
1847 Hugh & Jane Gordon PLC & DLC
1847 Rachel Larkins PLC & DLC
1848 Joseph & Hannah Wingfield PLC & DLC
1848 John & Anna Klingler PLC & DLC
1848 John & Amanda Wright PLC & DLC
1848 Charles & Lucy Sweigle PLC & DLC
1848 Mathias & Sarah Sweigle PLC & DLC
1848 Thomas P. Zamry Jackson PLC & DLC
1848 Sylvester & Esther Nickolson PLC & DLC
1849 Benjamin & Nancy Jackson PLC & DLC
1849 Jeremiah & Susanna Jack PLC & DLC
1849 George & Emerit Jackson PLC & DLC
1849 Andrew & Mary Baty PLC & DLC
1849 Charles & Abigail Cutting PLC & DLC
1850 William & Allyzana Woodcock DLC
1850 Stephen & Maria Farrow DLC
1851 Maxwell & Eliza Ramsby DLC
1851 Clifton & Christina Callahan DLC
1851 Ezekiel & Elizabeth Burbage DLC
1860 Joseph & Melinda Austin
1 William Vaughan arrived in Oregon in 1843 and in 1844 became the first non-Native permanent settler in the Molalla area. He was the first person to hoist a wagon over the Oregon City bluffs and brought the first wagon to the Molalla area. The Vaughan house, built in 1882-1885, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
2 Harrison Wright arrived in Oregon in 1844 and settled his land claim in 1845. He had a supply store at Liberal, operated a ferry on the Molalla River, & was the first Postmaster of the Molalla Post Office.
3 The Engles arrived in Oregon in 1845. In 1846, they were the first permanent settlers within what is now the city of Molalla. The Molalla Public Library sits on the Engle donation land claim.
4 The Howards operated the Howard Grist Mill in Mulino, also known as the Mulino Flour Mill. The mill, built in 1851, is the oldest surviving commercial building in Oregon and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Note: Provisional land claim(PLC) were land claims made under the Provisional Government of Oregon between 1843 and 1849. Donation land claims (DLC) were made under the Donation Land Act of 1850.
Other Notable Settlers of the Molalla Area
Year
Settled Names How Land Was Settled
1862 1 Daniel Albright Purchased from Hungate family
1853 2 William & Harriet Bagby DLC
1847 3 William Barlow PLC
? Daniels ?
185? 4 Horace L. & Julia Dibble Purchased from Larkins family
? August Erickson Purchased from JT Howard
? Hechard ?
? Hoffman ?
? Lucht ?
? Yoder ?
1860 5 Jacob & Sarah Robbins Purchased from Charles Sweigle
1860 Joesph Austin purchased the Ben Jackson land claim at the west half of Molalla for $5000.
1857 Asa & Abbie Sanders Purchased from Mathias Sweigle
1853 6 Alfred & Eliza Sawtell Purchased land south of Molalla
1864 Alfred & Margaret Shaver Purchased from George Jackson
185? 7 William Starkweather Settled on the Gordon DLC
1852 Gabriel Trullinger DLC
1 The Albright house farm group, built between 1865 and 1904, is listed on the National Register of Histroic Places.
2 Bagby’s son, Robert, discovered the famous Bagby Hot Springs and Bagby’s son, John, helped discover the Wilhoit Hot Springs.
3 In 1847, William Barlow (the son of Samuel Barlow of Barlow Road fame) settled a Provisional Government land claim (PLC) adjacent to William Vaughan’s land claim on the Molalla Prairie. In 1848, Barlow relinquished his land claim to Mathias Sweigle & settled a DLC near Canby.
4 The Dibbles originally settled a donation land claim in 1855 south of Canby, and in 1856 moved to Molalla where they had the Dibble House built in 1856-1859. The Dibble House is the oldest surviving intact house in the Molalla area and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
5 The Robbins arrived in Oregon in 1852 and after first settling in Marion County they moved to the Molalla area and purchased land from Charles Sweigle. Robbins’ descendants owned and operated the famous Robbins Brothers Store in Molalla.
6 The Sawtells were famous for growing teasel. Alfred’s two brothers arrived in Oregon much earlier and settled donation land claims in the Molalla area in 1853 and 1854.
7 William Starkweather married Eliza Gordon. He was the first school teacher in the Molalla area, and became a land surveyor, register of the Oregon City GLO Land Office, and was elected to legislative positions in the Territorial government and State government.
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