Histories

[WPA Interview] -- H. Clay TATOM

 Mr. Tatom was interviewed at his farm home about one half mile north of Philomath. Mr. Tatom 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.