Fagan, David D. "History of Benton County, Oregon." Portland, OR: A. G. Walling, Printer, Lithographer, Etc., 1885. pg. 505. EDWIN ALDEN ABBEY - A view of whose residence will be found in this volume, was born in Watertown, Jefferson county, New York, December 9, 1823, and in 1832, accompanied by his parents, located in Cleveland, Ohio. Here he resided until 1844, when he went South, being employed on the Mississippi river. In the month of September, 1846, he sailed from New Orleans to Mexico, being attached to the Quatermaster's department in the division of General Wood and Taylor. Having served until near the close of the war, he accompanied Col. Collins to Chihuahua, with dispatches to General Price to evacuate that portion of the county, which duty being performed he rejoined the army on the line of march to Santa Fe, and was destined to accompany Company I, First Dragoons, as Wagon Master, and was thus engaged with that corps until 1851. Mr. Abbey now came overland, traveling as far as Fort Laramie with the famous Kit Carson, and arrived in Benton county in the fall of that year. He located his claim about four miles from what was then Marysville (now Corvallis), having for his nearest neighbor Elijah Liggett, and at once set to work farming. In 1856 Mr. Abbey, with Dr. T. J. Right and E. Hartless, made the pioneer journey to Yaquina Bay, the former's reason for the journey being one of simple pleasure and adventures; but with Dr. Right it was different as he was appointed Surgeon to the agency which had ten been recently established on the coast. There were no roads, and Phil Sheridan, then a Lieutenant, was having his men cut a trail over the mountains to lead them from reservation to civilization. Mr. Abbey, following the trails, mad Yaquina Bay about two miles from its mouth. At that time there was not a single resident in that part of Benton county. In 1862 he took up his residence in Corvallis, and there resided for about three years and then moved to Yaquina and located a large tract of land which he still owns near Elk City, twenty-two miles from Newport. Mr. Abbey has again taken up his residence in Corvallis. Married in Benton county, Oregon, July 4, 1852, to Miss Mirinda Penland, who crossed the plans the prevous year, and has a surviving family of one son and one daughter, viz: Richard M. and Clara A. Submitted by: Jenny Tenlen * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.