Wasco County OR Archives Biographies.....Schenck, Mrs. John S. November 13, 1843 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 6, 2007, 12:53 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company MRS. JOHN S. SCHENCK. In 1846 William M. Pike undertook the long and hazardous overland journey to The Dalles and is a California and Oregon pioneer who has an intimate knowledge of events that have shaped the destiny of the coast. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, she was born November 13, 1843, and her maiden name was Naomi Lavinia Pike. Her parents were William M. and Harriet (Murphy) Pike, the latter a native of Tennessee. The father was a nephew of General Zebulon Montgomery Pike, the noted American explorer, who commanded an expedition to the western frontier in 1806. He was the discoverer of one of the highest summits of the Rockies and the mountain was later named Pike’s Peak in his honor In 1846 William M. Pike undertook the long and hazardous overland journey to California, traveling in a prairie schooner, but died en route. His widow was left with two small children to provide for and continued with the main body of emigrants until they reached the northern trail leading to Oregon. She took the southern route, going to California with the ill-fated Donner party, whose members were snowbound in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and nearly all of them died of starvation. Leaving her two babies in the camp, Mrs. Pike joined the relief party of seventeen persons, less than half of whom were able to reach Sacramento. Mrs. Pike suffered incredible hardships and when the rescue party returned to the camp her younger daughter, Catherine Elizabeth, was dead. The other child, Naomi L., at that time three years old, was rescued by an Englishman named John Rhodes, who was a member of the relief party organized in Sacramento and who had promised the mother to accomplish this task. Wrapping the child in a blanket, he strapped her to his back and started for Sacramento, a distance of forty miles. His pockets contained some dried heel, which he soaked in water obtained by melting snow, and this food nourished the little girl until she was returned to the arms of her mother. The daughter was the youngest surviving member of the Donner party and the terrible experience left an ineffaceable impression upon her mind. In 1849 her mother remarried, becoming the wife of M. C. Nye, who had migrated to California in 1841. He secured a Spanish land grant in the Sacramento valley and Marysville was afterward built on that ranch. Mr. Nye took his bride and stepdaughter to the east in 1849, by way of the isthmus route, and returned to California in the following year. He was a prosperous merchant and the executive head of the firm of Nye, Foster & Company, known to all of the ‘49ers who sought gold in the Marysville district and along the Columbia river. In 1853 he revisited the east, going by way of the isthmus of Panama, and returned by the overland route with a fine outfit, including a carriage, made especially for his wife and stepdaughter to ride in and drawn by horses and six teams of oxen. The wagons were loaded with supplies and men were hired to care for them. Mr. Nye then settled down to ranching in the Sacramento valley, where he remained until 1881, raising cattle and horses, and then disposed of his holdings in California. Coming to Oregon, he located at Prineville and here spent the remainder of his life, devoting his attention to the sheep business. His demise occurred about the year 1884 and Mrs. Nye passed away at Hood River, Oregon, in 1870. Naomi L. Pike attended the public schools of Marysville and continued her studies in the old Benecia Academy, now known as Mills College, a noted school for women. In 1864 she was married to Dr. B. W. Mitchell, who had opened an office at The Dalles in that year, and here resided until his death in 1871, becoming recognized as the leading physician of this locality. In 1877 Mrs. Mitchell became the wife of John Sylvester Schenck, who was born in Auburn, New York, a son of Sylvester and Eliza (Hughes) Schenck, whose ancestors were members of the Dutch colony of New York and aided materially in developing that part of the country. John S. Schenck was reared in his native state and received a public school education. In 1862 he yielded to the lure of the west, locating at The Dalles, and for several years was local agent for the Oregon Railway & Navigation Company, terminating his connection with the corporation in 1883. At that time he turned his attention to financial affairs, establishing the banking house of Schenck & Bell, which he conducted at The Dalles for two years. In 1885 the First National Bank was organized at The Dalles and Mr. Schenck was elected its first president, serving in that capacity until his death in 1913. Sagacious, farsighted and efficient, he placed the institution upon a paying basis and under his able administration it became one of the strongest and most reliable banks in this part of the state. The home of the bank is a five-story structure, which covers a quarter of a block and constitutes the city’s chief architectural adornment. It was planned and erected by Mr. Schenck against the advice of many, for at that time it was the general opinion that The Dalles would never grow sufficiently to warrant so elaborate a building. In addition to this achievement, Mr. Schenck rendered timely assistance to many of Wasco county’s leading agriculturists, who owe their success to his spirit of helpfulness and faith in the future. A stanch republican, he was a delegate to conventions of the party, sometimes acting as chairman, but never held public office. In Masonry he attained the thirty- second degree, belonging to the Scottish Rite Consistory, and was a charter member of Al Kader Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He was also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and took a keen interest in the activities of these organizations. To all movements for the benefit of his city he was quick to respond and its progress was a matter in which he took much personal pride. His was an exemplary life of conspicuous usefulness and his passing was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. Mrs. Schenck occupies the fine old home, which was erected at The Dalles in 1881, and is also the owner of a valuable farm of twelve hundred acres, situated in the Grass valley of Wasco county. Time has dealt kindly with her and although eighty-four years of age, she appears much younger, being exceptionally well preserved. She has lived to witness notable changes, as pioneer conditions have been replaced by the advantages of modern civilization, and her reminiscences of the early days are interesting and instructive. Mrs. Schenck possesses the admirable qualities of the true pioneer and enjoys the unqualified esteem of all who have been brought within the sphere of her influence. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Pages 258-261 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/wasco/photos/bios/schenck331gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/wasco/bios/schenck331gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 7.6 Kb