Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 237.
 
E. C. HACKETT

     In the "Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man" a prominent
Oregonian was featured by Fred Lockley, who wrote the following article for the
issue of August 12, 1925:
     "E. C. Hackett is county recorder of Clackamas county. I visited him
recently at his office in the courthouse in Oregon City, and in answer to my
questions he said: I was born at what is now known as Park Place, near Oregon
City, on December 30, 1851. I was christened Erwin Charles Hackett. My father,
John C. Hackett, was born in Ohio, September 10, 1825. My mother, whose maiden
name was Ellen Johnson, was born in Indiana, September 15, 1830. My father was
twenty-two years of age when he crossed the plains to Oregon in 1847. He came
with Hiram Fellows, who took a donation land claim in this county. Father
started across the plains with Mr. Fellows, but when Mr. Willis died father
drove his ox team the rest of the way to Oregon to help Mrs. Willis. Her
daughter, Mrs. Howell, lives at Canemah. My father took up a donation land claim
on the Clackamas river and Outlook is now located on his old claim.
     " 'My mother crossed the plains to Oregon in 1846 with her father, William
Johnson. W. Carey Johnson, the pioneer lawyer, was a cousin of my mother's. They
reached Whitman's mission in the fall of 1846. Their oxen were so worn out that
they decided to winter there. Dr. Whitman was always glad to furnish work for
the Oregon-bound emigrants, so he put Grandfather Johnson to work running a
grist mill. Ezra Johnson, the oldest son, came on to the Willamette valley that
fall. My mother and the other children stayed with their parents at the Whitman
mission. The names of the children were Jacob, Jasper, John, Mary, Martha and
Miriam. My mother's name was Ellen. My mother and some of the younger children
attended school, which was taught by Mrs. Whitman and Cornelius Rogers. Dr.
Whitman told my father to grind all the grain he could, as the Indians were
restless and he was expecting trouble from them. The trouble came a year later
when Dr. Whitman and his wife were killed.
     " 'The next time you cross the bridge over Johnson creek near Milwaukie,
stop and read the marker on the bridge to my grandfather. He took up a donation
land claim on that creek, which was named for him. He started a sawmill at
Milwaukie. My father was a millwright and went there to make some repairs on the
machinery. He met my mother there and they were married by the Rev. Isom
Cranfield in September, 1850. For the first two years of their married life they
lived at Park Place and in 1852 they took up a donation land claim where Outlook
is now situated. Father ran a sawmill on Johnson creek for some years and in
1861 he moved to Oregon City. I was eleven at that time and I remember very
distinctly going to bed one night and being awakened early next morning by some
men who had a raft fastened against the side of our house to take us ashore.
During the night the river had risen and surrounded our house. The high water
washed the grist-mill off the island at Oregon City and the back water floated
it up Abernethy creek, where it lodged. Barns, fences and buildings, live cattle
and dead ones, floated down the stream. The flood of 1861-62 was used for many
years afterwards to date events from. A thing happened "before the flood" or
"after the flood." My father died December 25, 1895, and mother passed away
March 14, 1914.
     "I went to school to Dr. George H. Atkinson, a Congregational minister and
a cultured gentleman who was universally esteemed and beloved. In 1865 we moved
to a farm at Baker's Bridge, on the Clackamas river. Later I returned to Oregon
City, where I went to school to Judge N. W. Randall. One of my good friends in
those days was Chief Wiskie, the last survivor of the tribe of Clackamas
Indians. In 1874, when I was twenty-three, I secured a position as teacher at
Eagle creek. I taught at Canemah, Gladstone and many other places in the county.
In fact I engaged in teaching for the next twenty-five years. J. E. Hedges, one
of Oregon City's prominent attorneys, went to school to me. So did Alex
Lethwaite, manager of the Crown-Willamette Paper Company, as well as J. W,
Ganong, manager of the Portland Flour Mills. In 1892 I became deputy sheriff and
retained that position for the next sixteen years. Two years ago I was elected
county recorder.
     " 'Some of these days you must go to Mrs. Hattie Pratt or Miss Barclay and
get a story from them. Their father, Dr. Forbes Barclay, was a physician of the
Hudson's Bay Company when Dr. McLoughlin was chief factor. When I was a boy I
met Dr. John McLoughlin. I knew Dr. Forbes Barclay very well indeed. He was a
fine man. He was a Scotchman and had all the integrity of character possessed by
that sturdy race. I knew Sidney Moss, who ran a hotel here in early days, and I
also knew A. L. Lovejoy. If you will look up the history of the Cayuse war you
will find that my father assisted Joe Meek, the sheriff, in hanging the five
Indians who were convicted of the murder of Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife and
the others killed at the Whitman massacre in November, 1847.' "
     Mr. Hackett was married December 31, 1889, to Miss Alma Senker, who was a
native of Germany and came to the United States with her mother. Their son, E.
A. Hackett, married Miss Minnie Boese and is a well known fuel dealer of Oregon
City. On June 9, 1909, E. C. Hackett was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary E.
(Thompson) Welch, who was born in Missouri.
     Mr. Hackett gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for
three terms was mayor of Oregon City. During his administration much
constructive work was accomplished and the affairs of the municipality were
wisely managed. He is still serving as county recorder and has clearly
demonstrated that he is the right man for the office. For more than forty years
he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is also
identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Masons and the
Grange. Mr. Hackett is well informed regarding the early history of Oregon and
has an interesting picture of a barn located on the site of the old fort which
was built in 1855 at Joseph Young's claim near Currinsville, this county, to
protect the settlers from Indian attacks. His life has been upright and useful
and he is well known and esteemed throughout his native county.
 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.