Collection	McCord
Photographer	Hazeltine, M. M.
Date of photo	1885-1891
Description	Covered wagon in Post Office Square. Photo is a slightly different pose and camera position than in photo 1981.1.291. On the back of the photo: "Frank P. McCord ,1242 Third St., Baker, Oregon" Store signs: Sam Sing Washing & Ironing (right), Singer Sewing Machines (left). A note from Grace Lewis says the following information is from West Shore Magazine, 1891, pp. 286 & 291: "Immigrants from Texas as they arrived at Baker City, Oregon. They crossed the plains with this novel outfit, taking their own time and getting much of their living on the way. A yoke of steers, a cow and a donkey and an old horse constituted the team to draw the prairie schooner across the plains and over the mountains in the good old-fashioned style and the family lived upon the milk of the cow, such game as could be shot by the way and a limited store of staples arranged for before starting on the long journey." The following description may be this covered wagon family. It was reprinted in the Bedrock Democrat of October 8, 1884. Originally appeared in the Boise Democrat. "Sunday Happenings "The Plains Across "A family of immigrants passed through town on Monday with an outfit that reminded one of the tail end of a fantastic Fourth of July procession. Their wagon, storm-tossed and rickety, was drawn by three oxen, a jackass and a horse. The wheelers were oxen, succeeded by the donkey mated also with an ox, which in turn was preceded by a horse lead by a man. The oxen were no larger than the Burmese cow of traveling menageries. The jack was about the size of a Newfoundland dog. The horse was also diminutive and seemed to be a collection of equine bones articulated for the occasion. The man who led the horse looked worse than the animal, while the balance of the human portion of the family was highly suggestive of what the niggers befo de wah called 'poah white trash.' They were republicans, opposed to free soap, leaving Texas because of its democracy and were on their way to the Willamette valley. A liberal purse was made up for them by our citizens, and they moved on westward no doubt carrying with them a tolerable fair opinion of Boise City.--Boise Democrat" The folder also contains four postcards made from this photo (cropped) printed for the Baker County Library by the Friends of the Library.
Object ID	1981.1.290
Place	Dewey, 1600, west

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Last modified on: April 16, 2009