WM. S. BYBEE.

"Thus the ruthless hand of Death
    Has nipp'd my flower in the bud;
Life's bitter cup she'll never sip--
    She's gone to dwell with God."

Died.

Died.

    DIED.--At the residence of her parents near Jacksonville, on Jan. 18th, LILLY MAY, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bybee; aged 3 years, 4 months and 9 days. This is the second sweet child of the parents called from earth to heaven within one week.

Born.

BORN.

DIED.

NOTICE TO DEBTORS!

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
WM. BYBEE.

    Wm. Bybee of Jackson County has sent in the past 20 years 20,000 fatted hogs to the California market.
"Pacific Coast," Weekly Corvallis Gazette, December 17, 1880, page 2


    On last Tuesday morning, June 27th, Wm. S. Webb, of Jackson County, and M. M. Bybee, of Lake County, Oregon, came to Adin, California, looking for horse thieves who had stolen three horses from parties in Jackson County, Oregon. They had a warrant for the arrest of the thieves. The warrant was placed in the hands of Constable J. B. Blake, and he, in company with Webb and Bybee, started out to search for the parties, who were supposed to be somewhere in the mountains north of the Higgins mill. The two horse thieves were found about 11 o'clock a.m., in the woods nearly eight miles north of town, about a mile north of the county road. They had all three of the stolen horses with them. When discovered by the Constable's posse the two men were taking a comfortable nap, their guns and revolvers lying by their sides. Both were young men, one aged about 28 years, the other apparently 18. Blake and Webb, at a distance of about 60 yards covered the men with their guns and called on them to surrender. At the second call the two desperadoes were wakened and "got up shooting." For the next few minutes there was lively fighting, and some thirty-two shots were exchanged, the officers shooting fourteen times and the horse thieves eighteen times. After the first six or eight shots the younger of the two fell mortally wounded. The elder one never lost his presence of mind for a moment. He, as well as the officers, had secured shelter. After firing several more times he broke for the creek, and having emptied his gun and secured the dying boy's "navy," intended still to hold the officials at bay. But the revolver being defective he was compelled to give himself up. He had received a severe wound in the mouth which cut his tongue, passing out through the neck behind the ear. The fingers of his left hand were shot off; he was also wounded in the leg. The younger man had received two shots in the left temple, either one of which would have proved fatal. He died in about three-quarters of an hour after the affray, and was unconscious to the last. The names of the thieves are unknown, the living one refusing to speak them.
Sacramento Daily Union, July 4, 1882, page 4


    RIGHT OF WAY.--The following parties have sold a right of way to the railroad company for the considerations mentioned since our last report: L. Colver, $1; M. Briggs, $25; J. W. Bybee, $1.
"Real Estate Transactions," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 15, 1883, page 4


    WILL GO EAST.--With the pioneer excursion to the eastern states to leave Portland October 1st we learn of the following from Jackson County who will join the party: Wm. Kahler and wife, James McDonough and wife, Wm. Bybee, John Tice, and Cortez Myer of Ashland. Special arrangements and rates have been made, and going in a crowd together they will no doubt have a good time.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, September 22, 1883, page 3


    WM. BYBEE: one of the largest land owners in Southern Oregon: resides near Jacksonville; was born in Clark County, Ky., 1830; came to Oregon in 1853 and to this county in 1854; was married in November, 1854, to Miss Elizabeth A. Walker. Children Ryland (deceased), James W., Florence (deceased), Lillie M. (deceased), Effie, Jefferson (deceased), Frank E., Alexander M. (deceased), Minnie I., Robert L., Minerva M. (deceased).
A. G. Walling, History of Southern Oregon, 1884, page 502


    LUCKY ESCAPE.--Ex-Sheriff Wm. Bybee went over to Josephine County last week to look after his various interests in that section and while in that vicinity he made it a point to call on Thos. Bybee, a nephew of his, with whom he had some business transactions, as they were partners in a ranch and crop in that locality. When driving into the enclosure Thos. Bybee came out and ordered Bill off the place, and for the balance of the story we submit William Bybee's own statement of the case which is as follows:
    On the 9th inst., I went over to Tom Bybee's for the purpose of putting my horses on hay there, the hay being my own. When I drove into the barnyard Tom Bybee ordered me to leave in very abrupt terms, calling me very hard names. Having an interest in the ranch and hay there, and not supposing that he meant to shoot me, I proceeded to unhitch my horses and put them in the barn and fed them my own hay. When I came out of the barn I started to go to my buggy, intending to get up in the seat and wait for Tom's passion to subside, when I intended to ask him to come out to the wagon and have a friendly talk about our business matters. I had gone but seven or eight steps toward my wagon when he fired on me from behind the chimney of the house, the ball striking my left leg about five inches below the kneecap and one inch to the left of the middle of the shinbone, coming out through the calf of the leg about four and a half inches from where it entered. The ball glanced on the bone. I will soon be all right again. I state this for the benefit of friends.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 15, 1885, page 3


    BOUND OVER.--Wm. Bybee returned home from Waldo this week, standing the trip quite well, his injuries not proving as bad as at first supposed. In the preliminary examination of Thos. T. Bybee for an attempt at murder, the defendant was bound over in the sum of $750, for which the bonds were given. Capt. H. Kelley of this place appeared as deputy district attorney in the case, returning home with Mr. Bybee.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, August 29, 1885, page 3


    J. C. Whipp, our enterprising marble dealer, has just received a large addition to his stock, and is displaying at the marble works in Jacksonville the largest line of monuments and tombstones ever offered in this market. One monument that measures 8½ feet from pedestal to cornice, is magnificent in style and workmanship; around an anchor with broken cable are entwined wreaths of ivory and forget-me-nots, in bold relief, and the whole finished in a style that makes it the handsomest piece of marble work in the valley. It is intended as a family monument to mark the last resting place of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Bybee in the town cemetery.
"Local Items," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, October 31, 1885, page 3


    T. T. Bybee vs. Wm. Bybee to recover money.
"Josephine Circuit Court," Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, November 7, 1885, page 3


    GRANTS PASS, Or., March 27th.--The latest investigation into the murder of Thomas F. Bybee has resulted in the arrest of William Bybee, the uncle of the deceased, upon strong circumstantial evidence. Both men were in Waldo together on the day of the murder, William having a rifle loaded with buckshot, and showing a shell at one of the stores. William left town at 8 o'clock p.m., Thomas a half hour later. About 8:30 the men at William's farm heard a shot, and half an hour after he came in with his rifle and denied hearing the shot. Next morning the body of the murdered man was found lying in the brush with sixteen buckshot in the right side of the neck within a space of three inches, making a horrible wound. He had in his hand a revolver, clasped in such a manner as to show that it had been placed there by someone other than himself. The testimony of the wife of deceased showed that her husband never carried a revolver, and that William had threatened the life of Thomas in her presence on account of an old feud concerning land matters. The same affair had caused Thomas to shoot his uncle in the leg, for which he was under indictment. The accused is fifty-seven years of age, and has been a resident of Jackson County since 1857.
Daily Alta California, San Francisco, March 28, 1886, page 5


    HORRIBLE MURDER.--As we stated in our last issue in an item taken from the Grants Pass Courier, Thos. T. Bybee was found dead in the road near Waldo not far from his home, death resulting from a gunshot wound, some sixteen buckshot having lodged in the right side of his neck within a space of less than ten inches and no doubt killing him instantly. Only a few months since it will be remembered that Wm. Bybee was shot in the leg by Thomas Bybee, the difficulty arising over some land troubles for which the latter was arrested and was under indictment at the time of his death. Wm. Bybee was arrested on suspicion, and at the preliminary examination held before Justice Kellogg at Kerbyville the following evidence is said to have been drawn out: Both men were in Waldo on that day, and in the evening William left town with a gun, Tom starting a half hour later--about 8:30 p.m. Shortly after this the men at William's place heard two shots and half an hour afterwards the latter returned to his home with the gun. Nothing further was known till next morning when a hired man at Tom Bybee's farm seen the owner's horse in front of the house unhitched and with saddle and bridle still on. Suspicion was aroused at once and the man at Mrs. Bybee's suggestion started for Waldo at once to see what was up when he found Tom dead in the road as above described. Deceased was lying on his back with a revolver in his left hand which was still fully loaded. The people in Waldo were notified at once and a coroner's investigation held, but that body failed to accuse anyone of the murder, saying that he came to his death at the hands of some party to us unknown. On Saturday, however, William was arrested on suspicion and is now in jail without bail on a charge of murder in the first degree. No defense was offered at the preliminary examination, only that Mr. Bybee pled not guilty to the charge. William Bybee has been a resident of Jackson since 1857, during which time he was always recognized as an honest, straightforward and brave man. He was twice elected to the office of Sheriff, filling the same most acceptably to all, and his many friends wherever he is known cannot yet make themselves believe that he would be guilty of shooting his worst enemy from ambush. We sincerely hope that Mr. Bybee can prove his innocence. He is now in the county jail here, having been brought over from Kerbyville yesterday by Deputy Sheriff Wilson of that county.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 3, 1886, page 3


    HE IS WATCHED.--A correspondent to Grants Pass Courier, from Waldo under date of April 2nd, has the following: "You are aware that there are a great many lies in circulation now concerning the Bybee homicide. That's the way; add insult to injury. A certain young man in this section is accused of causing much of the trouble between Tom and Bill Bybee. The same young man it was thought was seen sneaking around Mrs. Tom Bybee's house the night after the killing of Tom Bybee, and the tracks found in the yard correspond to his. This same young man is accused of burning Tom Bybee's hen house last fall during the absence of Tom Bybee. Look out, young man, you are watched by the people of this section. The people of this section demand the punishment of whoever may be guilty of the lowdown cowardly act of killing Tom Bybee."
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, April 10, 1886, page 3


    The taxpayers of Jackson County are somewhat anxious to know just why their bridge on Rogue River at Bybee's ferry should cost $10,000, when the one over the same stream at Grants Pass--which will be just as good--can be built for only one-half that amount. 'Tis kind of queer, ain't it?
"Local and Personal," Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, May 14, 1886, page 3




    The case of Wm. Bybee, accused of the murder of Thomas T. Bybee, on the 24th day of last March near Waldo, was resubmitted to the grand jury at this session of the court. This case was presented to the grand jury at the April term of court, and that body stood three for acquittal to four for conviction. Ever since court, it has been the opinion of the people that the votes of these three men were secured either by direct purchase, or otherwise. When the grand jury met last week, after hearing about two third of the testimony, it concluded it was warranted in asking the judge to resubmit the case, which they did, six being in favor of it. Up to Friday they remained the same, but all at once a change all together too marked came over four of them. On Tuesday when the evidence was concluded, the vote of the grand jury stood four for acquittal and three for conviction. As early as Sunday it became common talk on our streets that the jury had been bought, or enough of it to make it perfectly safe for the accused. Some of the jurymen were in almost constant consultation with the accused or his friends, and one of them who had no money when he came to town a little later was lavish in the display of coin, so we are informed. These four grand jurors are the worst enemies the accused man has in the county today, because their action does not exonerate him in the least from the charge against him; on the other hand it injures his case because, as a great many say, if he were indicted and tried and acquitted for want of evidence, then he would be exonerated. In short, but little doubt remains that four of the grand jury was secured by hook or crook to vote as they did. A deep rumble pervades the minds of our people. A blackened disgrace is fastened permanently upon our county, justice is screwed fast to the wall, civil laws suspended and the people left to protect themselves.
Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, November 12, 1886, page 2


Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, November 19, 1886, page 2


Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, November 26, 1886, page 2


    Many handsome pieces of marble work have lately been put up in the Jacksonville cemetery. The lots of Mr. Beekman, and Mr. Linn, have been enclosed with substantial stone coping ornamented with marble urns and vases, much improving the appearance of that part of the cemetery. In the town cemetery a very elegant monument has been erected over the grave of Rowland Hall. The material is Rutland marble, and the style is massive and beautiful. The Bybee lot has also been enclosed with a stone coping and a magnificent family monument placed in position. The material is Rutland marble of a light shade; upon a double sandstone base is a massive pillar of the marble surmounted by a tapering column, upon which is an urn of oriental design, half draped. The marble is susceptible of a very high polish, and the finish is fern fronds and ivy, wrought in tracery. The six grave markers are of the dark marble upon a base of pure white marble. The most exquisite little piece of marble work marks the grave of Mr. Whipp's little daughter; it is a tiny cabinet with marble coping. The front is a scroll with rustic lettering; across the stone is a wreath of ivy and immortelles and above it is a dove in flight. The design is a rare combination of art and genius that cannot be excelled on this coast. The work has all been executed at the marble works of J. C. Whipp in Jacksonville.
Oregon Sentinel, Jacksonville, December 4, 1886, page 3


    Wm. Bybee lost a shotgun out of his hack in the vicinity of Wilderville last Sunday.
"Local and Personal," Rogue River Courier, Grants Pass, April 8, 1887, page 3


    William Bybee has leased his Josephine mine on Rogue River, Or., to J. M. Underwood of Indianapolis, the lease being under contract for sale.
"Mines and Mining," San Francisco Call, December 12, 1895, page 10




    W. S. Bybee, an old pioneer of Jacksonville, Or., died at the home of his nephew, William Bybee, late Tuesday evening, after a long illness. He was 76 years old. He left one son, Martin Bybee, of Lake County.
"Oregon Dead," Capital Journal, Salem, April 8, 1898, page 4


    Jacksonville, Oct. 3.--Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Bybee, wife of Wm. Bybee, died at the family residence, one mile north of Jacksonville, Sunday night, aged nearly 62 years. Mrs. Bybee was born in the state of Missouri, January 7, 1838, and crossed the plains with her parents in 1847. The family resided on Sauvie's Island until 1852, when they removed to Jackson County and took up a donation claim on what is known as the Bybee home place. Mrs. Bybee was married to William Bybee Nov. 16, 1854. Of their eleven children, only five are now living.
    Mrs. Bybee was one of nature's noble women. Amiable, loving, charitable, the embodiment of devotion to principle, industrious, she had a willing hand and cheerful heart for all the multiplied duties of life. Modest and unassuming, richly endowed with all the admirable graces that go to adorn womanhood, she was a living code of social ethics. The wisdom of living a pure and useful life could not be more forcibly emphasized than in the spotless life of Mrs. Bybee. While her name was not connected with any public charities, she never failed the needy nor turned away the sorrowing. No pen can pay just tribute to her sterling womanhood.
    A husband and five children survive her. The children are: J. W., now in the Klondike country; Effa, wife of Chas. Prim, the attorney; Francis E., who lives here and is engaged in farming and stockraising; Minnie I. (Mrs. Luy), who lives with her husband in Medford; and Robert Lee, the youngest child, who is now at the family home.
    The funeral took place from the family residence this afternoon. Interment was in the family lot in Jacksonville cemetery, Rev. S. H. Jones officiating.
Valley Record, Ashland, October 5, 1899, page 3




    A season of agitation occurred Monday in the corner saloon, when August Fetsch, the proprietor, and Robert Bybee engaged in a dispute over a game of poker. It seems that Mr. Fetsch expressed doubts of Mr. Bybee's veracity and that Mr. Bybee then and there imprinted his digits on the countenance of Mr. Fetsch. This act seemed to displease Mr. Fetsch, who forthwith arose and smote. This procedure in turn aroused the displeasure of Bybee, who declared war. Mr. Fetsch made a desperate charge on Bybee's fortifications, but was repulsed with heavy loss. A fierce battle was waged but the parties were finally separated, greatly to their relief. Their performance cost them the regular price--$5 apiece.
Valley Record, Ashland, November 2, 1899, page 3


    "William Bybee of Jacksonville was in town Wednesday on return from his annual hog drive to Happy Camp, Cal. The swine are assembled at his Bybee Bridge ranch on Rogue River, and are driven 110 miles, the last 30 miles from Waldo being over a mountain trail. The trip occupies about two weeks, and six men are needed to keep the procession moving. The drive this year consisted of 156 head, averaging 200 pounds, and was accomplished with the loss of but one hog. The price at Happy Camp was $7.40 on foot, or $9 dressed, netting Mr. Bybee a handsome margin. Mr. Bybee has been in this business for 41 years, and the miners at Happy Camp count on his supply for winter meat." (From Grants Pass Observer, 1900, which was reprinted in Nov. 30 issue of the Medford Enquirer, 1900, now in the possession of Boyd Hamilton of Ruch.)
Medford Mail Tribune, January 27, 1959, page 4


    William Bybee, of Soda Springs, is negotiating with a colony of Eastern people for the sale of his 1400-acre ranch on Rogue River. He owns over 4000 acres of land in Jackson County, which he intends to sell in tracts.
"Pacific Coast News," Sausalito News, March 9, 1901, page 1


    WILLIAM BYBEE. In the whole of Jackson County, Ore., there is no more extensive land owner than William Bybee, to whom belongs the distinction of having owned at different periods more than half of Jackson County, whose interests have been identified with his own since first coming to this locality in the spring of 1854. A native of the state of Kentucky, born near Winchester, Clark County, April 20, 1830, and reared upon a farm, he was the recipient of but a meager education, and in the spring of 1850 he started out to seek his fortune. At Cass County, Mo., he entered the employ of the government, in the transfer of freight to Mexico, continuing to work in that capacity for about six months. In the spring of 1851 he accompanied a train of government supplies to Larimer, Kans., and a few months later returned to Cass County. Having an intense desire to go further west and try his fortune on the Pacific Slope, Mr. Bybee, in company with eight others, congregated at Larimer, provisioned an outfit of several wagons, drawn by mule teams and started for the Far West in the spring 1852. Arriving at Diamond Springs, Cal., they spent the winter at that place in prospecting and mining, with only fair success, and the following spring pushed on to the vicinity of Portland, Ore., where they remained about a year.
    Mr. Bybee first came to Jackson County in the spring of 1854, and during July, August and September, with Jesse Walker and about fifty other settlers, he assisted in protecting the settlers from the raids of the Indians, whose depredations caused considerable trouble in that locality. They chased the foe a distance of about two hundred and fifty miles before subduing them, and then returned home and disbanded soon afterwards. Mr. Bybee bought a donation claim near Jacksonville, and before him was the gigantic task of clearing the land if he would cultivate the rich soil. By perseverance and patient efforts he soon began to prosper, and in a very short time added four hundred acres to his original claim. Subsequent purchases increased his farm to one of larger dimensions, until now he owns seventeen hundred acres in that locality. Here the greater part of his life has been spent, and during these years thousands of dollars have been spent in the improvement of his land. Stock-raising is his principal business, although a part of his wealth is the result of successful mining operations. For a period of forty-one consecutive years Mr. Bybee supplied the miners in this vicinity with choice porkers, which he drove to the mines himself, often realizing a handsome profit therefrom. By keen foresight all his savings were invested in real estate and more and more attention was given to stock-raising and buying and selling land. In addition to his splendid home farm, his possessions at this writing include twenty-nine hundred acres in the Rogue River region, fifteen hundred and sixty acres along Antelope Creek, and five hundred acres along Evans Creek, seven miles above Wimer. Fine mineral springs are located on the latter farm, which enhance its value exceedingly.
    As a representative citizen of Jackson County, Mr. Bybee has carried into the political field the same keen judgment and foresight which have always characterized his business transactions. In 1878 he was the successful candidate of the Democratic Party for the office of sheriff, and during his four years of service the duties of this office claimed his attention assiduously and were executed in a prompt and fearless manner. Few enterprises have been inaugurated in or about Jacksonville which have not had the benefit of his ability and profited by his influence and guidance. His extensive business interests have left him little time for fraternal societies, and he affiliates with but one order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which he joined in 1860.
    The marriage of Mr. Bybee, November 16, 1854, united him with Miss Elizabeth A. Walker, a daughter of Jesse Walker, and this union has been blessed with eleven children. Riland D. was killed by a falling horse at the age of fifteen; two others, Florence and Lily, died from diphtheria; Jefferson was twelve years old at the time of his demise; Alexander also died young; and Maude was five years old at the time of her death. Those living are J. William, a resident of Alaska; F. E., who resides at Medford; Robert E., a citizen of Idaho; Effie, wife of Judge Prim, of Jacksonville; and Minnie, who is now Mrs. Fred Low. The beloved mother of these children passed to her eternal rest October 31, 1899.
Portrait and Biographical Record of Western Oregon, Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904, pages 300-301