"Illustrated History of Lane County, Oregon." Portland, Oregon: A. G. Walling,
publisher, 1884.  pg. 475.
 
ELIJAH BRISTOW
     (Deceased)  The first settler in Lane county, whose portrait will be found
in this work, was born in Tazewell county, Virginia, April 28, 1788.  His
boyhood days were passed in the mountainous regions of Virginia, where his early
training accustomed him to the woodman's ways and to the use of firearms.  Here
he rapidly became noted as an expert marksman and hunter.  His surroundings and
early training imbued him with the restless spirit of adventure, and upon
arriving at manhood, he set his face westward emigrating to Kentucky, he
commenced the improvement of a home, acquiring in the meantime the different
trades of hatter, blacksmith and gunsmith; the two latter being his favorites
were followed assiduously together with the occupation of a farmer, until old
age palsied his arm from further labor.  When the war of 1812 and the Creek
Indian war broke out, he was among the first in his locality to volunteer his
services to his country.  Declining proffered command of a company of
volunteers, he went -- as he preferred -- in the ranks, serving with
distinction, in Captain Kennedy's company, through one campaign under General
Jackson against the Creek Indians.  He was present and took part in the battle
of Taladega during that expedition.  His accurate marksmanship soon brought him
under the notice of General Jackson, who took occasion to frequently put him
upon special duty, scouting, etc.  One instance he used to relate with much
amusing detail as illustrating "Old Hickory's" violent temper and arbitrary
disposition:  Being ordered to shoot some beeves, he took his trusty rifle and
started for the cattle pens near the camp, but was stopped by a sentinel who
refused to let him pass without the countersign.  He returned to the general's
tent to obtain in, but "Old Hickory" being out of humor about something began
storming, saying he "did not send him out to get countersigns but to kill
beeves."  That was enough for Bristow, who walked back to the line of the
sentinel's beat, and at long range began shooting down the cattle on the
hillside beyond.  On Learning what was being done, Jackson ordered the sentry to
"let that d---- sharp-shooter pass the lines."  Various incidents of his
campaign life might be related illustrative of his energy and determination
under difficulties, but space will not permit.
     From Kentucky Mr. Bristow emigrated to Illinois, settling first in Macoupin
county; thence to McDonough county, where he lived about twenty-three years.
During the Black Hawk war, his neighbors becoming alarmed, commenced to build a
fort in which to place their families for safety.  In order to quiet their
fears, Mr. Bristow volunteered to go to the front and ascertain if any immediate
danger was pending; in doing which he went alone from his home to Rock Island
and a back, a distance of over a hundred miles, through a country which was then
uninhabited except by Indians.  Finding the territory clear of hostiles, he
returned to his neighbors, quieted their fears and caused the little settlement
to again resume its round of peaceful occupations.  In the year 1845, Mr.
Bristow set his face westward again, going first to California, and thence to
Oregon the following year, where he became, as previously stated, the first
settler in Lane county.
     On March 7, 1812, he married Miss Susana Gabbert, who thenceforward became
his companion, and by her patience, perseverance and Christian fortitude, did
much towards making his future life happy and successful.  Elijah Bristow died
September 19, 1872, and his loved wife and life-long companion, on March 7,
1874.  Theirs was a long and eventful life, interspersed with many trials and
hardships, but also with much of happiness and genuine life pleasures.  As in
life, together they rest, side by side under the oaks in Pleasant Hill cemetery.
Theirs was truly a pioneer life and in living it, their Christian acts have left
their impress behind them, beautifying their memories and benefiting the lives
of those that follow after them.
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.