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[Identification of item], Byars family papers, Archives and Special Collections, Mark O. Hatfield Library, Willamette University.
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The Byars family papers is a multigenerational collection that contains books, correspondence, photographs, financial and legal documents, and memorabilia connected with the Byars family, Willamette University, and Oregon. The material in the collection ranges from 1866 to 1990, but the majority is from 1875 to 1942. Items of note include: letters from William H. Byars to Senator John H. Mitchell regarding political appointments, a collection of cabinet cards, and a collection of land deeds from the Salem and Portland areas.
William Henry Byars was born on July 7, 1839 in Des Moines County, Iowa, the son of Fleming Byars (1817-1848) and Maria (Deardorff) Byars (1817-1894). In 1853, he crossed the Oregon Trail with his family and settled in Milwaukie, Oregon. After meeting his future wife Emma A. (Slocum) Reed in Milwaukie in 1864, he moved to Douglas County, Oregon and worked as a teacher and mail carrier. Byars attended Umpqua Academy in 1860 and entered Willamette University in 1861. On March 15, 1865 Byars enlisted with Company A of the 1st Regiment Oregon Volunteer Cavalry under Colonel Reuben F. Maury. After being honorably discharged in 1866, he graduated from Umpqua Academy on June 21, 1867 as part of the first graduating class. A year and a half later he married Emma A. Reed on December 23, 1868. In 1873, he moved to Roseburg, Oregon and purchased the Roseburg Plaindealer newspaper. In 1882 he was elected state printer and moved to Salem, Oregon. Byars also worked as dater of the Oregon Statesman in Salem and purchased the Evening Capital Journal (later the Salem Capital Journal) shortly after its founding. He served as surveyor-general of Oregon under President Harrison and was appointed commandant of the state soldiers' home at Roseburg by Governor Lord. He died in Salem in 1922.
William Fleming Byars was born on February 26, 1871 in Wilbur, Oregon, the son of William Henry Byars (1839-1922) and Emma A. (Slocum) Byars (1843-1929). The family moved to Salem in 1883. There, he graduated from the Academy of Willamette University and spent a year in the College of Liberal Arts. At Willamette he met Ada Catharine Nesbitt of Goldendale, Washington whom he married on May 4, 1892. They moved to Portland and later to Goldendale in 1894, at which time he became the editor of the Goldendale Sentinel newspaper. Later, he acquired full ownership over the paper, which he published until he sold it in 1907. In 1908 he bought a half interest in an abstract company and would later purchase the other half. In 1913 he incorporated the three abstract companies of Klickitat County, Washington into the Abstract & Title Guaranty Company. Byars became president of the company and managed it until his death. He served as postmaster of Goldendale, Klickitat County engineer, city councilman, and mayor of Goldendale. He was active in the Goldendale Methodist Church and Mason Lodge No. 31. Byars died in Goldendale, Washington on March 6, 1949.
William "Bill" Joseph Byars was born April 14, 1917 to William N. Byars (1893-1982) and Minnie L. Byars (1890-1987). He graduated from Willamette University in 1941. During his time at Willamette, he was a member of Kappa Gamma Rho, the Mathematics Club, Songmen, and University Vespers. After her graduation from Willamette, he married Hilma May Breuser (Class of 1942). He died in Salem, Oregon on October 12, 2010.
Hilma May Breuser was born April 24, 1918 in Rainier, Oregon to Herman Mitchell Breuser (1873-1945) and Nancy Dorothy (Nowlin) Breuser (1890-1964). While attending Willamette University she worked as copy editor for the Willamette Collegian and was a member of Delta Tau Gamma and University Vespers. She graduated from Willamette University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1942 and later married William Joseph Byars (Class of 1941). She died in Salem, Oregon on January 24, 2011.
The Byars family papers are arranged by generation and material type into four series. Series I contains the papers of William Henry Byars and is further arranged by material type. Series II comprises the papers of his son William Fleming Byars. Willamette University memorabilia and the papers of William "Bill" Byars and his wife Hilma Breuser Byars are in Series III. Series IV contains the bulk of the photographs in the collection.
All items found in metal box labeled "Great Gr. Byars Paper Save!" unless otherwise noted. See Box 7 for the metal box.
Found in manila envelope labeled "Gr. Grandfather Byars (W. H. Byars) Personal History Files." See Box 1, Folder 11 for the envelope.
Letter sent from Portland, Oregon.
Contains two letters (1885 and 1890) written on letterhead from the
Found in Manila envelope labeled "Gr. Grandfather Byars (W.H. Byars) Personal History Files." The envelope is enclosed in this folder.
Letter enclosed with a newspaper clipping: "Austin Mires Writes Poem on Fame."
Contains two sets of letters (1885 and 1889) between Senator John H. Mitchell and W. H. Byars. The first set of letters regards an audit of W. H. Byars with audit papers enclosed. The second set of letters regards politics in Oregon and Washington D.C. The envelope containing these papers is postmarked 1902.
Contains two letters from Charles H. Withers, Jr. and one letter from W. H. Byars (father-in-law of Ronald C. Glover).
From the Abstract Office of Union Title Abstract Company in Salem, Oregon. Abstract of Title number 161 to lot number 3 in Block number 53 in the City of Salem.
From the Abstract Office of Union Title Abstract Company in Salem, Oregon. Abstract of Title 66,000 to multiple lots on the Santiam River.
Written on "The Greater Salem Midsummer Carnival" letterhead. The notes detail multiple land transactions from 1873-1902.
Certificate made out to W. H. Byars for 100 shares of stock.
Certificate made out to W. H. Byars for 5 shares of stock.
Materials in this subseries were not found in the metal box.
Contains William H. Byars' complete military career under the commands of Thomas R. Cornelius and Reuben F. Maury as well as a handwritten autobiography of William H. Byars' civil life. Also includes multiple notes, newspaper clippings, and photographs of Congressman Hawley's headstone and a cabinet card of W. H. Byars with mining equipment from Ray Stout's picture collection.
The Willamette University diplomas for Vera Mary Byars and Ronald Grawfond Glover were included in this series because these were the only items of theirs in the collection. Vera Mary Byars was William Henry Byars' daughter. She married Ronald Grawfond Glover.
Found in envelope "Save Gr. Gr Byars apt as State Printers 1880s"
Written in a "Patronize American Capital German American Insurance Company of New York" notebook.
Dodge Auto map and guide book to points of interests and tours in San Diego.
The only photograph found in the metal box labeled "Great Gr. Byars Paper Save!"
This obituary was published in
Found in a manila envelope.
Found in the 1939
Found in the 1939
Inscription reads: "To William and Hilma Byars, with the high regards of the Author. Robert Moulton Gatke Aug. 30 1943." Loose in main box.
Odell, Oregon. Names of everyone in the class included on the back of the photograph.
Spokane High School graduation photo. Created by Libby Art Studio.
Dayton, Washington. Created at New Model Studio.
Olympia, Washington. Created by Rodgers.
Wedding photograph. Created by Hathaway.
Created by Jed Br__ Photography.
Richmond, Indiana. Created by East End Studios, Stigleman and Son.
Salem, Oregon. Created by Cronise Photo.
Olympia, Washington.
Cherrington of Salem, Oregon.
Haussler of San Francisco, California.
Lentz Bros. of Peru, Indiana.
Removed from frame.