The Oregon Land of Commodore Perry O'Neal

Yesterday, 14 Apr 2017, I wrote about Commodore Perry O'Neal, my 2nd great-grandfather. Today I am writing about his land. He bought his first land in Oregon 26 Oct 1870. He purchased 168.89 acres more or less for $500 from W. L. and Hester E. Bryant. It was (1) the northwest 1/4 of the southeast 1/4, (2) the north 1/2 of the southwest 1/4 and (3) Lot No. 3, all in Section 18, Township 19 South, Range 3 West and (4) Lot No. 4 in Section 13, Township 19 South, Range 4 West. This land was all located in Lane County Oregon. 

Mr. Bryant had entered a Homestead which included (1) 40 acres, (2) 84.38 acres and (4) 25.24 acres, for a total of 149.62 acres. Before the Bryants owned (3) 19.27 acres, it had been purchased from the federal government as a cash sale entry by James Moore. So the 149.62 acres plus 19.27 acres equals the total purchased by my ancestor. For most of the land he purchased, he was the second owner after the U.S. government.

Then about a dozen years later, in the spring of 1883, Commodore Perry made a homestead entry himself on land adjoining that which he had purchased. It was described as south 1/2 of the southeast 1/4 = 80 acres and south 1/2 of the southwest 1/4 = 84.53 acres for a total of 164.53 acres all in Section 18, Township 19 South, Range 3 West. Here he was the first owner after the government.

But what happened to his land when C. P. died in July 1919. Less than 2 months before his death, he had deeded the entire tract, 333.42 acres, to his 3 sons: John J, Edward C and George E. His one daughter had predeceased him in 1918. Apparently these 3 unmarried men lived there and farmed it. Then less than 3 years later, 27 Feb 1922, the oldest son, John J. O'Neal died without a will. So his share of the land would go to all of his heirs: his 2 brothers and the 5 children of his deceased sister.

In June of 1924 George married a neighbor girl, Cora Sutton. It was in 1935 when both of the brothers died, Edward in April and George in July. Deeds from 1937 and 1938 indicate that the property was divided and a Metzger map from about 1940 shows the western portion belonged to Cora O'Neal, George's widow, and the eastern side to Roy Bond et.al., which probably included all of Mary (O'Neal) Bond's children. By the time the 1954 Metzger map was published, none of the O'Neal or Bond clan owned any of this property.

A current map on-line from Lane County tax assessor's office shows that a portion of C.P.'s land has now been subdivided into Spencer View Estates. I wonder what Commodore Perry would have thought of that.