Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 511.
 
BENJAMIN F. PIKE

     is a retired farmer residing at Moro, but a distinguished soldier of he
Civil War, and one who has experienced navy adventures and vicissitudes in his
career. He was born at Newburyport, Massachusetts, November 24, 1840. His
father, Benjamin S. Pike, was a native of New Hampshire, a farmer and mechanic.
For many years he was foreman in a shipyard. He passed from earth in 1852. The
distinguished Pike family first settled on Ring's Island, across the river from
Newburyport, about 1648. Nathan Pike, the great-grandfather of our subject, was
a captain during the Revolutionary War, in the Massachusetts Line Infantry.
Zebulon Pike, an uncle of our subject's father, was a lieutenant colonel, and
was killed at Fort George during the War of 1812. As is well known the Pike
family hold an annual reunion in New England.
     Benjamin F. Pike was reared in Massachusetts until the opening of the Civil
War, when he patriotically enlisted in Company B, Fortieth New York Infantry, in
June, 1861, and was mustered into service on the fourteenth of the same month.
He served until January 13, 1866, when he was mustered out at Richmond,
Virginia. He participated in the battle of Williamsburg, and he first saw active
service during McClellan's Peninsular campaign. He was in Pope's campaign in
Virginia; Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He then accompanied the Army of the
James to Richmond where his command became a part of the Twenty-fourth corps,
and took part in the capture of Petersburg and the surrender at Appomattox.
Subsequently he served in the military police and provost guard in Richmond
until mustered out. He returned to Massachusetts for a short visit, and then
accompanied Colonel Morrison's New York Battalion to Mexico, joining Colonel
Corona's regiment in the Mexican army. The next year saw the end of the war, and
he returned to the United States, arriving at San Francisco in April, 1867. He
came to Portland, Oregon, from San Francisco, going to Linn county. Thence he
went to Umatilla county, where he located a sawmill on Butter creek, and then
returned to Linn county where he married and remained about eight years,
returning to Umatilla county, where he became one of the first settlers in the
Cold Springs country. Here he secured land, remaining five years, going thence
to The Dalles where for two years he was engaged in freighting. In 1883 Mr. Pike
located in Sherman county, three miles from Moro, where he purchased land and
has continued to add more ever since. He owns at present one thousand acres
which is conducted by his son, Irwin D., his only living child. 
     May 7, 1871, our subscriber, at Lebanon, Linn county, was united in
marriage to Mahala G. Denny, a native of Union, born October 30, 1842. She is
the daughter of Christen and Eliza. (Nickerson) Denny, the, former a native of
Virginia;  the latter of Massachusetts. The father was a descendant of a
distinguished Virginia family, the mother of Cape Cod colonial people. Mrs.
Pike, the wife of our subject, has one brother living, John F., a retired farmer
living at Albany, Oregon. Judge Owen N. Denny, who became prominent in Oregon
affairs, died  at Portland, in 1900.  Another brother, Presley, died at Salt
Lake City, Utah, in 1900.  He was a leading, attorney in that state. She has one
sister, Sarah E., wife of William H. Goltra, of Albany, Oregon.
     Our subject is a member of William T. Sherman Post, G. A. R., of Wasco, of
which he is commander. He is also commander of the Department of Oregon, G. A.
R. Mrs. Pike was about eight years old when her family crossed the plains in
1852 with fifty-two wagons in the train. The party, was constantly annoyed by
Indians, who ran off their stock and committed other depredations. They, also,
captured two men of the party, who escaped three weeks later. While on this
perilous trip her father contracted typhoid fever, dying one week after their
arrival in Linn county. Judge Oven Denny, her deceased brother, was a minister
to Corea.
     Mr. Pike was elected assessor of Sherman county in 1896, and re-elected in
1898, and again in 1900, serving three terms in the office.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.