Lang, H. O., ed.  "The History of the Willamette Valley, Being A Description 
of the Valley and its Resources, with an account of its Discovery and 
Settlement by White Men, and its Subsequent History; Together with Personal 
Reminiscences of its Early Pioneers."  Portland, OR, Geo. H. Himes, Book and 
Job Printer, 1885.  p. 614.

CYRENE B. (TAYLOR) CARY

     Was born in Richmond City, Virginia, July 24, 1815.  "My parents moved to
Christian County, Kentucky, when I was three years old.  There I married Miles
Cary in 1831, and moved to Missouri in 1834, where we remained until 1843, when
we started to Oregon.  We started with plenty of provisions and took in three
men on the plains that had been turned off by others, but still we had plenty.
Had no trouble, only sickness and the death of a little daughter three years
old, at Fort Bridger.  Had a false Indian alarm, when Fremont came up with the
American flag.  Some of the men were without bullets.  While the men corralled
the cattle, Mrs. Andrew Hembree and myself run bullets.  Mr. Gray came to our
wagon to borrow a gun.  My husband told him he could have mine; I said, "No you
can not have my gun, for I am going to fight for my little ones and need my
gun."  My husband said I had better get in the wagon and put the feather beds
around the children and myself so the arrows would not hit us; I told him I
could not do that, for we had better be killed than taken prisoners.  But just
as we were ready for battle, the word came that it was Fremont's company.  When
we arrived at the Hudson's Bay post on the Columbia River, we left our cattle in
the care of a man there, until the next summer.  My husband worked for Dr.
McLoughlin, at Oregon City, until the next June, when we moved up to Yamhill
County, and took up a claim and began farming.  For a new country that was
inhabited by Indians, and so few white people, we fared exceedingly well.  the
first winter there were but three settlers on the north side of the Yamhill
river; two of them were bachelors -- Dr. Sitton and Mr. Paul.  A negro girl I
brought with me and myself were the only women on that side of the river, and no
way to cross only foot logs.  We sent for our cattle, bought some pigs and
chickens from a man on Sauvie's Island, in the Willamette River.  We then made
plenty of butter and cheese.  We had to go to Oregon City for our flour and
groceries.  Some wore moccasins for lack of shoes.  The men wore buckskin pants.
The women could get clothing from Vancouver or Oregon City by paying for it.  We
had no more trouble with the Indians than we could expect; I was frightened
worse than hurt many times; but I look back now and wonder how we ever escaped
as we did.  It was a higher power than ours that protected us.  You asked me
what our provisions consisted of.  We had beef, venison and elk, sugar, coffee,
butter cheese and bread.  There were no fruits here at that time.  I have been a
widow since 1858.  My husband died on September 26th of that year.  I have three
children living -- J. J. Cary, W. B. Cary and M. Ettie Cary.  I live in
Lafayette, Yamhill County."

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.