1

Brooks Historical Society Newsletter January 2012 Vol. 1

http://www.oregonpioneers.com/marion/BrooksHistoricalSociety.htm We gather, preserve and make available material relating to the history of

Brooks and neighboring communities having natural, economical and cultural affinity

Willamette Women Our History is our

Strength Brooks Historical Society-

Museum was invited to partici-pate in the second annual Heri-tage Invitational Extrava-ganza, which gives the Mid Valley Cultural and History Museums and Organizations an opportunity to shine on women from their communi-ties. Our exhibit recognizes Mary Ramp, Madam Marie Dorion and Catherine Rousill-Chalifoux.

Exhibit will run January 20 through March 10, 2012.

Opening Reception will be held Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 6- 7:30 PM Free Admission with Brooks Historical Society Member-ship card.

Mary Ray and Adele Egan at our exhibit in the Wil-lamette Heritage Center, Mission Mill Museum.

2

Women of the French Prairie Brooks Historical Society-Museum (Partnering with An-tique Powerland). Featuring three women of our historical past, this issue we will high-light Mary Ramp, with the next 2 issues the other two women.

Mary Ann Hammer Ramp 1829-1919

Mary Ramp, Pioneer suffrage and Prohibi-

tionist

Mary Jane Ramp, wife of Samuel R Ramp of

Brooks, Marion County, was a leader in Ore-

gon Pioneer women’s fight for the equal right

to vote. Besides the suffrage movement, Mary

was also a militant prohibitionist, preaching

the evils of strong drink

Sam and Mary Ramp crossed the plains in a

covered wagon in 1853 with three children,

one born on the way. They first settled in the

Silverton Hills, but it took money to buy a

good farm and times were hard. Lots of hard

work and ingenuity made it possible to eventu-

ally buy a big farm on French Prairie where

they built their homestead just north of Brooks

on Pacific Highway 99E. In time Sam and

Mary owned 11 large Willamette Valley farms

which Mary continued to operate after Sam

died in 1898.

Mary raised her seven children and still had

time to campaign the suffrage and prohibition

causes. She continued her efforts in giving

women the right to vote, being a heavy prop-

erty taxpayer and interested in school elec-

tions. In fact, a school election is where she

cast her first vote.

Mary Ramp gave Salem a home for the We

C.T.U., known as "Ramp Hall for the Promo-

tion of Equal Suffrage and Temperance." She

later changed temperance to National Prohibi-

tion.

After Sam died Mary moved to Salem where

she remained until her death January 16, 1916

at age 86. At that time she was survived by

three children, 21 grandchildren and 28 great

grandchildren.

3

The Pioneer

family for

2012

Isham Recogni-

tion

June 16, 2012

James Jefferson and

Clarissa Wynn Isham,

came to Oregon by

crossing the Plains to

make a home in shampoo we, Marion

County.

James Jefferson Isham a son of James

and Nancy Hash, was born in 1819 in Ten-

nessee. As a child James J fell into a fire

and badly burned his face which made his

eye and face disfigured shows in only

known photograph which is in the records

at Brooks Historical Society

James and Clarissa Wynn Isham became

parents of five children in Newmanville,

Cass County, and another child after arriv-

ing in Oregon. James E, John A, and

daughter Martha, William Uriah, and Alan

Wynn Isham, left their home in Newman-

ville, Va. They went on to St. Joseph Mis-

souri the jumping off point to join other

wagons to form a train to make the trip

across the plains to Oregon. In 1858 the

wagon train arrived in Oregon

William Uriah later married Mary Fowler

making their home Eastern Oregon and a

short time later Labish Center just east of

Brooks.

Back row left to right

Clay, Minnie, Frank, Kate, Martha-

Middle row left to right Faye, Grandfa-

ther (William U., Grandmother Mary,

and Al-Front row left to right-Chloe,

Earl, Margerite

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Volunteers for 2011

Museum open 28 days, for 148 hours.43

volunteers, putting in 1400 hrs.

Visitors for 2011

Local —69

Salem—174

Oregon-746

beyond Oregon—218

foreign 28 —-

Total 992

4

MISSION STATEMENT The objective of the Brooks Historical Society and Depot Museum is to be educational, to stimulate an interest in,,

and a knowledge of, and a knowledge of, the history of Brooks, Oregon, and the surrounding area.

Adult Member ---------------------- $12.00

Student Membership ---------------- ———-$ 5 . 0 0 (Elementary and High School )

Business Membership ----------- $30.00

Donation -------------------------$

Name:

Address:

City/State/zip:

Phone

E-mail

Checks should be written to

Brooks Historical Society Mail to: PO Box 9265 Brooks, OR 97305

OFFICERS and BOARD

President - Louis Sowa

Vice-President - Bob Brown

Treasurer - June Smith

Recording Secretary - Dorene Standish

Correspondence Secretary - Marilyn Barner

MEETINGS

The Brooks Historical Society meets at the Brooks Depot Museum at 10AM the first Saturday of the month. Directions to the museum at Antique Powerland: From I-5 - take Exit 263 -- go west approx. 1/4 mile to: Antique Powerland 3995 Brooklake Road, Brooks, OR 97303