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. 786.
 
S. J. NEWSOM

     now one of the retired stockmen in Crook county, has the distinction of
being one of the first pioneers here and the foremost man during the years
since. He was born in Springfield, Illinois, on March 13, 1834. His father,
David Newsom, was born in Green Brier county, Virginia, in 1808 and was an early
pioneer of Oregon, crossing the plains in 1851. He was a noted temperance
advocate and did much good work both in Oregon and Washington. His death
occurred in 1880. He had married Mary Huston, who was born in Monroe county,
West Virginia, in 1815. She came of Scotch-Irish ancestry, her grandfather being
a native of Ireland and her grandmother of Scotland. Our subject remained in
Springfield, Illinois, until seventeen years of age, then, it being 1851, came
across the plains with his parents. They utilized ox teams for this journey and
settlement was made in Marion county a few miles northeast of Salem, the father
taking a donation claim. Our subject remained in that vicinity for twenty years,
making several trips to the mines in the meantime. In 1863 he returned via the
Isthmus to Kentucky, wintering in Illinois, and the next spring returned to
Oregon, bringing stock with hirri to his western home. In 1863 he purchased a
farm near the home place and dwelt there two years. Then he came to that portion
of Wasco county now embraced in Crook county and selected a home on the creek
which received his name, some thirty miles east from where Prineville now
stands. He continued there until 1879, then removed to Prineville, where he has
resided since. He took up stock raising when he first came here and continued
actively at it until a few years ago, when he retired from business. He owns now
more than twenty-five hundred acres of land in Crook county, one-half section of
which is within the city limits of Prineville.  Mr. Newsom has made a splendid
success in the financial world and is looked up to as one of the leading men of
the county.
     On August 24, 1876, in Albany, Oregon, Mr. Newsom married Sarah J. Simpson,
who was born in Linn county, Oregon, on January 7, 1853. Her father, Frank
Simpson, was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, and there grew to manhood and married.
Then he moved to Missouri, where his first wife died. Later he married Mary Ann
Corum, a native of Clay county, Missouri. She is now living in Pomeroy,
Washington. Mr. Simpson left Missouri in 1850 and came to Oregon, settling on a
donation claim near Albany. In 1870 he moved to Lassen county, California, and
there died in 1872. To Mr. and Mrs. Newsom the following named children have
been born, John D., Gale S. and Samuel J.   John D. was born March 8, 1899, and
received his early education in Prineville, graduating from the public schools
when eleven. Then he entered the state normal, graduating when he was eighteen
years of age. Then he enlisted in Company C, from Lane county, responding to the
first call for volunteers during the Spanish war. He went to the Philippine
Islands with the Second Oregon Regiment and did duty there for fifteen months.
He returned in 1899 and matriculated in the Portland law school from which he
graduated on March 3, 1902. He is now deputy state mineral surveyor, under
thirty thousand dollar bonds. Gale S. was born on September 7, 1881, and after
completing the public schools in Eugene, Oregon, he attended the normal and also
took a business course in Portland. In 1900 he entered the medical college and
graduated in April, 1904, and is now practicing at Arlington, this state.
Samuel J. was born June 5, 1889, and is now a student in the high school.
     Mr. Newsom served in the Yakima and Cayuse Indian Wars and although two
captains, a lieutenant, a mate and companion were killed and crippled near him
and he had many close calls, still he yeas never injured. At one time during the
campaign, he subsisted for twenty days on horse meat, they being obliged to kill
the worn-out Cayuses for this purpose. He waited forty-seven years before
receiving his pension for this service but finally succeeded in getting it. In
1819 Mr. Newsom filled the unexpired term of A. H. Brehman, the county assessor,
and then was elected assessor of Wasco county. At the creation of Crook county,
he was appointed surveyor by the governor, being the first incumbent of that
office, and while performing his duties, he yeas urged by the county court to
bring in the assessment for Crook county. Owing to that, he resigned his duties
as surveyor and became assessor. He filled this office with credit to himself
and, as in every capacity, was a thorough and stanch business man. Politically,
he is a Democrat and gives of the time and interest that is demanded in this
realm.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.