Richard Tatom

Other Events:

• Biography:

  WPA Interview of Solomon's Son, H. Clay Tatom

  "Mr. TATOM was interviewed at his farm home about one half mile north of Philomath. Mr. TATOM's father, who came to Oregon in the early days as a boy of seven, lived until a few years ago. However, neither Mr. TATOM nor his father made any written records, and he was able to tell me little of importance. Mrs. TATOM is also of pioneer stock but was absent from home and the interview with her was postponed until a later date. Mr. TATOM said: My Grandfather, Richard TATOM, came with his wife, Lavina, from Missouri to Oregon in 1854. Grandfather was captain of the team and they came without any special difficulty, so far as I know. The first winter they spent at Halls Ferry of the Willamette River and in the spring of 1855 they located at Kings Valley. Grandfather's donation land claim was on the hill just west of CHAMBERS and other first settlers. Grandfather seems to have been skilled at many trades, but he worked at blacksmithing more than any other except farming. Grandfather's children were James, Rebecca, William, Mary, Lavina, Isaac, Caroline, George, and Solomon. Solomon was my father. He was born in Missouri in 1847. My mother was Cyrena WOOD, who was born in Benton County in 1854. Her father's donation land claim was a little north east of Blodgett, near the head of Gellatly canyon on the Newport Highway. My parents were married in 1871. They had three children. My sisters, who are dead, were Nellie (Mrs. Frank PLUNKETT), and Minnie (Mrs. Jonnie PRICE). Father spent his boyhood and attended school in Kings Valley. I have often heard him talk of Fort Hoskins and the men who were there but I made no record and cannot give exact information. I know Phil SHERIDAN was one of the officers he talked of seeing. Father was nine when the fort was built and nineteen when it was abandoned. In 1901 I married Elsie MATHANY whose folks were also pioneers. Her mother was a cousin of Louis Albert BANKS who won as much fame as a evangelist and preacher. Our children are Mable (Mrs. Glenn BRADY), Minnie (Mrs. James McMURTRY), Calvin, Marian and Dean."

• Note: 7 Apr 1823, Dickson County, Tennessee, USA;

  A William Tatom was appointed to oversee road in place of Jacob Walker at April Term 1823. The next road overseer appointed after him was George H. Walker. Could this be Richard's father or brother?

• Land: 3 Jun 1835, Lot 23, Greenville, Bond County, Illinois, USA;

  Richard purchased from the County Commissioners, in the "new town of Greenville," Lot 23, for $25.

• Note: 4 Jul 1835, Greenville, Bond County, Illinois, USA
• Deed: 24 Feb 1836, [Tatom to Hartley Jr], Bond County, Illinois, USA;

  On this date Richard Tatum sold 47 1/2 acres for $200 to his brother-in-law, James Hartley, Jr. Acknowledged/proved and filed on the same date.

• Land: 12 Jan 1837, Lot 23, Greenville, Bond County, Illinois, USA;

  Richard sold lot 23, town of Greenville, to James Bradford for $300. Acknowledgment and dower relinquishment, 12 January 1837. No filing date.

• Land: 10 Sep 1844, Sec. 2, Twp. 34N, Rg. 26W, Cedar County, Missouri, USA;

  Richard Tatom, along with partner Oliver Hubbard were granted by land patent 160 acres in Section 2 of Township 34N, Range 26W in Cedar County. Oliver Hubbard is unknown at this point.

• Land: 1 Nov 1848, Sec 10, Twp 33N, Rg 2W, Cedar County, Missouri, USA;

  Richard patented forty acres in his name alone in Section 10 of Township 33N, Range 25W.

• Residence: 1 Sep 1854, Benton County, Oregon, USA;

  Oregon Land Donation file indicates that he settled on the property for which he later filed on this date.

• Land: 16 Nov 1854, Benton County, Oregon, USA;

  Richard Tatom filed for Oregon Donation Lands on this date. The 322.63 acres was located in T10S, R6W, Sections 8 and 17, "the North half to the said Richard Tatom, and the South half to his wife, the said Levina Tatom."

• Tax Record: 1855, Benton County, Oregon, USA
• Tax Record: 1856, Benton County, Oregon, USA
• Probate Settlement: 1869, Polk County, Oregon, USA

Notes:

Note:

From Perrin's History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois

"The second jail was built by Richard Tatom on the public square for $321.74, payment made for same July 4, 1935, that probably being the date of receiving the building."

Deed:

". . . in the county of Bond . . . and described as a part of the north west quarter of Section No. twenty two Township six north in Range three west and bounded as follows [:] Beginning at the north west corner of said Section and Runing 'six] East 80 pees Thence south 80 poles Thence west 80 poles to the section line Thence west 24 poles to a small creek Thence up the meanders of said creek upwards of 80 poles to a willow tree thence East to poles the Beginning containing forty seven acres & a half."

Land:

Citation: Richard Tatom (Benton County), donation lands, final certificate no. 4667, Oregon City, Oregon, Land Office; Oregon and Washington Donation Land Files, 1851-1903, Records of the Bureau of Land Management, Record Group 49, NARA, Wash., D.C., microfilm publication M815, roll 51.

Died:

Probably died in Benton or Polk County.

Richard married Levina Hartley on 26 Mar 1826 in Dickson County, Tennessee, USA. Levina (daughter of James Hartley and Elizabeth Walker) was born on 24 Jan 1811 in Dickson County, Tennessee, USA; died on 7 Nov 1870 in Benton County, Oregon, USA; was buried in Dallas Cemetery, Polk County, Oregon, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Richard's Oregon Donation Lands file states that he and his wife Levina were married in "Dixon" County, Tennessee, on this date. Many of the early Dickson County marriage records are missing, due to a tornado that destroyed the courthouse in 1830, explaining why no record has been located.

Children:

1. James Tatum was born in 1827 in Dickson County, Tennessee, USA; died after 1880.
2. William Tatum was born about 1831 in Illinois, USA; died in 1888 in Polk County, Oregon, USA; was buried in Dallas Cemetery, Polk County, Oregon, USA.
3. Elizabeth Tatum was born about 1833 in Illinois, USA; died in 1859 in Oregon, USA.
4. Levina Tatum was born about 1836 in Illinois, USA; died on 11 Sep 1913 in Polk County, Oregon, USA; was buried in Dallas Cemetery, Polk County, Oregon, USA.
5. Isaac Tatom was born about 1837 in Missouri, USA; died on 7 Nov 1872 in Oregon, USA; was buried in Dallas Cemetery, Polk County, Oregon, USA.
6. Caroline Tatom was born on 28 May 1841 in Missouri, USA; died on 11 Mar 1926 in Independence, Polk County, Oregon, USA; was buried in Hilltop Cemetery, Polk County, Oregon, USA.
7. George Tatom was born about 1844 in Missouri, USA; died after 1910.
8. Solomon Tatom was born about 1848 in Missouri, USA; died on 2 Nov 1928 in Benton County, Oregon, USA.