Hedden family papers , 1885-1969

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Hedden, John N., 1856-1941; Hedden, Emma, 1891-1979; Hedden, Cyrus W., 1820-1911
Title
Hedden family papers
Dates
1885-1969 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.5 linear feet, (1 container)
Collection Number
Coll 221
Summary
The Hedden family, owners of the Hedden Store in Scottsburg, Oregon, were some of the original inhabitants of the town, arriving in 1851. The collection primarily contains personal correspondence within the Hedden family dating from 1885-1959 and also documents and business correspondence dating from 1880 to 1969.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Cyrus Hedden was an early pioneer in Douglas County and was one of the original inhabitants of Scottsburg, Oregon, arriving there on September 20, 1851. He worked in the town as a blacksmith until opening a general store. He also served as County Commissioner for Douglas County. Prior to his death on March 29, 1911, Cyrus Hedden handed the business over to his son, John N. Hedden.

John N. Hedden married Fannie Henderer in 1886 and they had five children: Cyrus, Emma (born April 27, 1891), Hulda (died young), Charles G., and June. John also served as Vice President of The First National Bank of Gardiner, Oregon, retiring from that position in 1928. He died in 1941. His daughter Emma inherited the store and numerous properties, as she had been faithfully working for her father without pay since age 18. She had also been postmaster for the town of Scottsburg as early as 1920. Emma never married and upon retirement moved to a nursing home in Florence, Oregon, and died a few years later on December 9, 1979, at the age of 88.

References

Gaston, Joseph. The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912. Vol. 3. Chicago, IL: The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912.

Oregon Death Index. 1976-1980.

Oregon Historical Quarterly. Vols. 19, 25, 28, and 40. Portland, OR: Oregon Historical Society, 1967.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Western Oregon. Chicago, IL: Chapman Publishing Company, 1904.

Roseburg News Review. 1979, Dec. 11, 12.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection primarily contains personal correspondence within the Hedden family dating from 1885-1959, the bulk of which is letters to Emma from her mother, Fannie. Letters written by and to other family members are also present, along with a few letters from family friends. Most of the correspondence is dated; however, there are some undated and incomplete letter fragments.

The remainder of the collection consists of documents and business correspondence dating from 1880 to 1969. These are mostly letters to Emma from attorneys, bankers, and insurance agents, largely dealing with her inheritance of property and the family store. The documents include a copy of the deed to the inherited property, insurance policies, and tax returns. Excluding an individual income tax return for Emma in 1955, all the tax forms are property returns from 1959. All of the tax forms are in Folder 6.

A separate collection which may be of interest (also housed in the University of Oregon Special Collections) is the Hedden Store, Scottsburg, Oregon, Records, 1903-1950 (Bx 16). This collection contains 58 volumes of business records from the Hedden store.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Pioneers--Oregon

Corporate Names

  • Hedden Store (Scottsburg, Or.)

Geographical Names

  • Oregon--Social life and customs
  • Scottsburg (Or.)

Form or Genre Terms

  • Business records
  • Correspondence
  • Letters (Correspondence)