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William Cannon and Helen Cooley Hubbard
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Judge W.C. Hubbard. The qualities which endear man to man are dominant traits in the character of W.C. Hubbard, and so widely and favorably is he known in Salem and the surrounding country that it is with pleasure that we present to our readers the record of his career. His residence in the state dates from 1847 and therefore the pioneer history of Oregon is as familiar to him as is the latter-day progress and development. He was born in Pike county, Ill., twelve miles from Pittsfield, November 8, 1836, and is the eldest living of the four surviving children in a family that once numbered eleven born unto Charles and Margaret (Cannon) Hubbard. The father was born in Kentucky February 14, 1800, and at an early day removed to Missouri, settling near St. Louis, while later he became a resident of Pike county, Ill., and there carried on farming. The explorations that had been made in the northwest and the reports that he had heard awakened in him a desire to become a resident of the section of the country whose resources were so glowingly described. Accordingly, in 1837, he started for Oregon accompanied by his wife and six children. They had two wagons drawn by oxen, thus traveling in the primitive manner of the times - the vanguard of civilization which was soon to transform this district from a wild region inhabited by Indians to one of the most important sections of our great land. They traveled by way of St. Joseph, Mo., crossing the river there, thence proceeding up the Platte and over the old Oregon trail. On the way the baby of the family died while they were in the Cascade mountains. They had no trouble with the Indians until they arrived at the Columbia river and even then they managed to make the red men keep their distance. They had left the main road at the foot of Blue mountain and proceeded to Whitman station, intending to spend the winter there. Dr. Whitman, at the time, was down in the valley and Mrs. Whitman urged them to proceed on their way because she believed that there would be many emigrants behind them whom they would have to assist later in the season. They arrived, therefore, in the valley October 20, and the father secured a donation claim on Clear creek, seven miles northeast of Oregon City, but remained there for only a year, when he gave up the property. He then located on the French claim, purchasing a tract of a former owner and also securing a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres. With characteristic energy he began to clear, improve and cultivate his land and in course of time a splendid farm was seen as the result of his labors. He continued to engage in agricultural work until his retirement from business life. He died at the home of his son in Mission Bottom in 1884, when eighty-four years of age. A worthy Christian man, he held membership in the Baptist Church and into the minds of his children he instilled lessons of industry and integrity which have borne good fruit in their later lives. His wife, who was born in Missouri, April 19, 1811, was a daughter of James Cannon, who died in that state. Mrs. Hubbard passed away at the old homestead in 1880. Judge Hubbard spent the first ten years of his life in the state of his nativity and then came with his parents as they journeyed across the country to the northwest. he assisted in driving the loose cattle and walked six hundred miles of the way at one time, but at intervals he had the privilege of riding for a short distance. After reaching Oregon he remained at home with his parents until twenty-two years of age with the exception of a period of two years. In his youth, he attended school near his home and in Oregon City and at the age of nineteen years worked in the mines of California for a time. He passed through the Rogue river Indian war country, making the journey on pack horses, and at length arrived at Yreka, Cal. he was then engaged in mining at Deadwood until 1857 when he returned to his home, remaining with his parents until 1859. He then came into possession of one hundred and sixty acres of new land covered with brush, and there he began farming, but after two years he rented an improved farm, upon which he lived for three years. By that time his labors had brought to him a good financial return and with the money he had thus earned he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in the Mission Bottom and located at this new home. As the years have passed and his financial resources have enabled him to make additional purchases he has added to his property until he now owns a farm of six hundred acres in one body which is under a very high state of cultivation. This is pleasantly located twelve miles north of Salem. There grain is raised on an extensive scale, and to the cultivation of a portion of the property Judge Hubbard gives his personal supervision. He is, however, living practically retired at his home in Salem. The judge was married in Parkerville, Oreg., in 1859 to Miss Helen M. Cooley, who was born in Clay county, Mo., and was brought across the plains to Oregon in 1844, her father, Christopher C. Cooley, bringing his family to the northwest in that year. Reaching his destination, he settled on French Prairie, where he engaged in farming until his death. Mrs. Hubbard was but four years of age at the time of the overland trip. Unto the judge and his wife have been born seven children: Walter S., who is a member of the fire department of Seattle; Orville B., who is engaged in mining in Alaska; Oscar, who died on the home farm at the age of twenty-five years; Ira W. and Wylie W., who are stock men, living in Salem; Rodena, who died when but three weeks old; and Dollie, of Salem. In his political views the judge has ever been an earnest Republican and has studied closely the issues and questions of the day and puts forth every effort in his power to promote the growth and extend the influence of his party. While residing upon his farm he was elected and served for two terms as county commissioner, entering upon the duties of the office in 1882. From early manhood he has also served as a school officer and the cause of education has found in him a warm and helpful friend. In 1892 he was elected county judge of Marion county on the Republican ticket for a term of four years, assuming the duties of the office in July of that year, serving continuously until July, 1896. In December, 1902, he was nominated on the Republican ticket for the position of city councilman from his fourth ward and in January, 1903, he took his position as a member of the board of alderman for a two years' term. Fraternally the judge is connected with Chemeketa Lodge, No. 1, I.O.O.F., of Salem, and Salem Encampment. Judge Hubbard is kind-hearted, liberal, sympathetic and honorable, and in all life's relations he has been found true to the trusts reposed in him and worthy of the regard accorded him.
Hubbard, W.C., of Salem, was born in Pike co., Illinois, November 8, 1836, and came to Oregon in 1847, locating on a farm seven miles southeast of Oregon City. he moved in 1848 to a farm in Marion County, where the town of Hubbard, named after his father, now stands and lived there until 1892, when he moved to Salem. He has been a delegate to nearly every county convention since 1880, to the state convention of 1884 and the league meetings of 1895 and 1896. He was elected County Commissioner in 1882, and again in 1884. In 1892 he was elected County Judge for four years.
JUDGE WILLIAM CANNON HUBBARD. For four years Judge William Cannon Hubbard served on the bench of the county court of Marion county, and prior to that time he had proven his worth as a citizen in other public affairs. He had also given practical demonstration of his business ability along agricultural lines and is still the owner of valuable farming property although in recent years he has disposed of much of his land. He was born in Pike county, Illinois, November 8, 1836, his parents being Charles and Margaret (Cannon) Hubbard. The father was a native of Kentucky and the mother of Missouri, in which state they were married. Charles Hubbard had been previously married and by the first union there were two children. Soon after he wedded Margaret Cannon he removed to Illinois where he resided until 1847, when he crossed the plains with ox teams to Oregon, making his first location on Clear creek, about seven miles from Oregon city. A year later, or in the fall of 1848, he took up his abode on French prairie, in Marion county, where he acquired a donation claim of six hundred and forty acres. Upon that property, he resided to the time of his death, which occurred in 1884, when he was eighty-four years of age. He had placed many substantial improvements upon his land and had converted the wild prairie into rich and productive fields. Hubbard Place, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, is built upon that claim and was named in his honor. He had for thirty-seven years been a resident of Oregon at the time of his demise, and had taken an active and helpful part in the work of pioneer development and improvement as well as in the labors that brought about the later day prosperity. His wife passed away in February, 1880, at the age of sixty-nine years. Judge Hubbard spent his youthful days with his parents and acquired his education in the public school. In the winter of 1851 he began earning his own living, becoming a partner in an enterprise to furnish saw logs for a mill near his home. His time was then occupied from November until the following June. In 1855 he left home and went to the mines at Yreka, California, where he was engaged in mining until July, 1857, when he returned in Marion county. He then took up the occupation of farming in which he continued until 1892, winning a substantial measure of success along that line. His methods were practical and progressive and his labors resulted in the development of productive fields and the harvesting of large crops. At one time he owned six hundred acres of land in the Mission bottoms, in Marion county, but since his removal to Salem has disposed of portions of this tract from time to time until his holdings now include about two hundred and forty-five acres. He was first called to office in 1882, when elected county commissioner of Marion county. His record in that position received public endorsement in a reelection in 1884, or for two complete terms. In 1892, he was elected county judge and removed to Salem, where he has since resided. He served upon the bench for four years but since that time has lived retired. In 1859, Judge Hubbard was married to Miss Helen M. Cooley of Marion county, a daughter of Christopher Cooley, who came to Oregon from Clay county, Missouri, in 1845. Unto Judge and Mrs Hubbard have been born seven children of whom four are yet living. Walter S., engaged in the drayage business at Seattle, Washington; Orville B., mining in Alaska; Ira W., a farmer of Idaho; and Dolly H., the wife of Joseph Graber, a plumber of Salem, Oregon. Politically Judge Hubbard has ever been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and at all times is conversant with the vital questions and issues of the day. He is well known in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, holding membership with Chemeketa Lodge No. 1, the first lodge organized in the state. He has passed though all the chairs for the local organization and enjoys the high regard of his brethren of the fraternity in an unusual degree. Few citizens of Oregon can boast of a longer residence in this state than Judge Hubbard, who for sixty-five years has lived within its borders. Oregon was then a territory and was indeed a frontier district, it requiring months to reach the older and more thickly settled portions of the country-months of travel across the plains or by the water route around Cape Horn or across the Isthmus of panama. The early settlers endured many hardships and privations and they also faced the danger of Indian attack but with courageous spirit they met the conditions that existed and in the course of years have gained the reward of their labors and their sacrifices, for the land which they entered in early days have become valuable with the rapid settlement of the state and the improvements that have been introduced, Judge Hubbard has ever been an interested witness of the changes that have occurred since he first came to the northwest and has borne his part in the work of early progress in Marion county.
OREGON RESIDENT FOR 82 YEARS IS DEAD AT CAPITAL Salem, June 28 (U.P.) William C. Hubbard, 92, a resident of Oregon since 1847, died at his home here Thursday night after an illness of several months. He came to Oregon as a boy of 10 years from Pike county, Illinois, his parents locating first at Oregon City and then removing to Hubbard, Marion county the town being named after the family. Hubbard served as county judge of Marion county from 1892 to 1896. He also was a former county commissioner of this county and served for several years as a member of the Salem city council. He had lived in Salem since 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Hubbard celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary last November. Mrs. Hubbard, who survives her husband is quite ill at this time. Besides he wife he leaves a daughter, Mrs. Joseph Graber of Salem; a son, Orville Hubbard of Alaska; 15 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Rigdon chapel at 1:30 p.m. Saturday with interment in the Clagget cemetery north of here.
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Last updated 9/19/99