Date: Fri, 31 Jul 1998 14:32:32
To: zickefoose-l(a)rootsweb.com
From: Jim Norene <cnorene(a)orednet.org>
Subject: Oregon Calling
Hi folks----this, in response to Herman Clark <hclark1632(a)aol.com>----------
First off, just in case you have not heard, there is a book -FROM ZIGENFUSS
TO
ZICKEFOOSE, (1739-1990) by Larry C. Zickefoose, at 10 Valeside Drive,
Covington Kentucky, 41017, ph.1 606 356 2127. Most interesting.
I don't have a great deal on the siblings of Mary Z.-only
names and
estimated b. & d. dates. This you may find on World Family Tree CD
#3. and
includes Susanna, Sampson, Mary, Fanny, Sally, Peter (the 2nd), George,
Elias-who married Elizabeth Armentrout. Also has kids of Elias & Elizabeth
listed as Susanna, Elias, Elizabeth (my g-g-grandmother-m.to Henry Metzker),
Henry and Mary Z. Can also find some of this stuff in records of Augusta
Co. VA Vol.2.
Must take this opportunity to correct mistake in last email
where I
said Elizabeth Z was mmy great grandmother---WRONG---make that
G-G-Grandmother!
Next---Where is Heppner, Oregon? We are in the northeast
corner of
the state. Look on a map and see we are about 65 miles SW of Pendleton,
and
also 45 miles due south of the Columbia River. The Old Oregon Trail crosses
through our (Morrow) county about 24 miles north of Heppner(pop. 1500), and
we cross it every time we travel out to Hermiston or Pendleton, which are
the nearest towns of any size.
Concerning the Conner train of 1852. I was lead by my
g-grandfather John Metzker,who was married to Mary Conner Metzker. Mary had
21 years of childbearing, 17 children, two of which died on the trail. They
had 2 wagons--all being ox driven---and 8 children at the time, counting the
two who died on the trail at ages of 5 yr and 2 yr. The best I can account,
there were 21 other wagons on the trip, including 18 families with such
names as Metzker, Syron (3 fam), Gilstrap, McClure, Conner (2 fam),
Franklin(2 fam) Miller, Hunt (2 fam), Larkin (2 fam), and Lupert Dykstra
with wife Hannah Conner & 3 children. Many of these folks buried at
Pleasant Hill Cem. Sheridan, Ore. and my g-grandmother is buried in
Lakeview, Ore.(near the Cal.border). We have more information on these if
anyone really is interested. We (my wife Cork and I) went to a
Conner/Metzker reunion this past Memorial (Decoration day they used to call
it) Day down at the Pleasant Hill Cem, near Sheridan, Oregon (this in the
Willamette Valley). Many of them in that area still own and live on the
original Donation Land Claims, especially on the Conner side who stayed put,
and prospered and multiplied, as apposed to the Metzkers who are scattered
all over western, southern and eastern Oregon, AND northern Calif. and
Nevada. There is one of the original members of the 1852 train that is
buried right here in Heppner, and that is Joseph Conner, who served in
Company D, 4th California Inf. at the time of the Civil War, but I believe
he did his service out West during that time.
A word about us Norene's---I am a retired veterinarian
(after 43
yr.) am married to Cork (Corabelle) Nutting Norene, since 6/50, have one
daughter Tracie who lives here with her husband Mike and dau.Audra and own
the NAPA (auto parts) store in Heppner. Cork was raised in the Yakima
Valley (Washington) amongst the local Indians, and "wears a feather in her
hair" as she says. Traces back to Choctaw/Cherokee in Oklahoma, and has
cousins back there. I am 75, a WWII vet of the 101st Airborne Division,
served in France, Belgium, Holland, etc. where I was a member of a rifle
company. Cork's g-grandparents were married in a church in England that
was just 4 miles from where my regiment was stationed while in England, of
course I had not even met her at that time, but in 1992 we went across and
looked up the church, as well as dropping in on some of her cousins who live
in England. It's a real treat to be able to meet some of these people face
to face.
So, I have dragged on and on, so better not bore you any more
with
this and will say as my good Dutch friends -----Houdoe et Tot ziens
Jim