Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 946.
 
NATHAN HUSSEY

     a venerable Oregon pioneer of 1845, and one of the very first settlers in
the western part of Polk county, was born in the State of Ohio December 14,
1815, son of Nathan and Mary (Stewart) Hussey, natives of Virginia. The
ancestors of the family emigrated from France to America previous to the
Revolution and settled in the Old Dominion. The father of our subject served in
the war of 1812. He and his wife had nine children, of whom only three are
living: Nathan and his two sisters. Nathan was two years old when the family
removed to Illinois, and in that State he was reared on his father's farm,
receiving his education in the primitive log schoolhouse.
     In 1845, hearing of the rich soil and mild climate of Oregon, Mr. Hussey
crossed the plains with ox teams to this coast, bringing with him seven yoke of
oxen and ten cows. The following spring he settled on a donation claim, then a
beautiful, clean country, all the trees on the hills having grown up since. Here
he built his little home and engaged in stock-raising, and here he has resided
forty-six years, having accomplished many a hard day's work on this property. He
is now seventy-seven years old, and still keeps up his work as of yore. He is
one of the two survivors of the first settlers of this part of the county.
     Mr. Hussey was married in Illinois in 1836, to Miss Sarah Burden, a native
of that State, and at the time they came to Oregon they had three children:
William H. Harrison, Norman and Christopher, all now married and settled in
life. They had six children born in Oregon, one of whom, Elizabeth, died in the
twenty-second year of her age. Mrs. Hussey passed away in 1872. The other
children are: Julia, wife of L. M. Wallace, settled near her father; Sophia,
also married; Riley and Frank Nathan, at home; and Winfield Scott, a resident of
Ballston.
     As the years passed by and Mr. Hussey became able he purchased 300 acres of
land, which he gave to the two oldest sons. He also gave another son 160 acres
and now has 160 acres for himself. He is living with his eldest son, Frank. His
political relations have always been with the Republican party. During the
Salmon river excitement, he scent to the mines and returned with a few hundred
dollars in gold. Few men have lived as peaceable a life as he. He has never sued
and has never been
sued.
     Such is a brief sketch of one of Oregon's brave pioneers, one who had the
courage to break away from civilization and become one of the men who made it
possible for the, then, unsettled Territory to become the great State of Oregon.
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
Census
1850, Oct 21; Polk Co, OR.; p 120; family # 183
Nathan Hussey, 38, OH, farmer
Sarah, 30, IL
Wm. H, 10, IL, att. school
Norman I, 8, IL, att. school
Christopher I, 6, IL, att. school
Elizabeth I, 5, OT
Lucinda I, 3, OT
 
1870, July 8; Polk Co, OR; Grande Ronde Pct, p 314; family #520
Nathen Hussey, 55, OH, farmer, $3000 real estate, $1465 pers. prop.
Sarah, 49, IL
Elisabeth, 24, OR
Julia, 21, OR
Nathan, 18, OR
Franklin, 15, OR
Riley, 13, OR
Winfield, 7, OR, att. school
 
1880, June 17; Polk Co, OR; Douglas Pct, p 455; family # 134
Nathan Hussey, 64, IL, --,--, farmer
Nathan Jr., son, 29, OR, IL, IL, at home
Frank, son, 28, OR, IL, IL, works on farm
Riley, son, 23, OR, IL, IL, works on farm
Winfield, son, 17, OR, IL, IL, att. school

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2009 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.