Smith Cemetery ~ John Walton Sevier ~ part of the Polk County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Sevier, John Walton
LAST: Sevier FIRST: John MID: Walton
GENDER: M MAIDEN NAME:  TITLE: 
BORN: 15 Oct 1828 DIED: 7 Dec 1909 BURIED: 9 Dec 1909 (Smith Cemetery)
OCCUPATION:  
BIRTH PLACE:  Missouri
DEATH PLACE: Polk Co, Oregon
NOTES: 
Donation Land Claim - #4033 John W. Sevier, b 1830, Pettis Co, Mo; Arrived Oregon Sept 1852; Settled Claim 1 July 1855. Aff: James Cooper, Harben M. Cooper, J.W.J. Matney MARRIAGE - to Martha Kibbey, Nov 1859 [Discrepancy: obituary says 50th anniversary was 5 Nov 1909; Polk Co Marriage Records as transcribed by Jean Custer & Daraleen Wade list John Lewis & Martha Kibby m 2 Nov 1859; "Lewis" might be a misreading of "Sevier"] 1870 OR CENSUS - John Sevier (41y, b Missouri, occupation farmer) enumerated with Martha 32y, b Kentucky), Henry (10y, b Oregon), James (7y, b Oregon), Ellen (5y, b Oregon) & Eliza (3y, b Oregon) 1880 OR CENSUS - John Sevier (53y, b Missouri, occupation farmer) enumerated with him was wife Martha (42y, b Kentucky), 4 children, James (18y, b Oregon), Eliza F. (12y, b Oregon), John H. (10y, b Oregon) & William A. (5y, b Oregon) and a laborer Jefferson Matney (17y, b Oregon) 1900 OR CENSUS - John Sevier (b Oct 1828, Missouri) enumerated with wife of 41 years Martha W. (b Apr 1839, Missouri, mother of 9 children, 5 living at time of census) and 2 sons, John (b June 1871, Oregon) & William A. (b July 1874, Oregon)
OBITUARY: 
This morning in Smith’s cemetery was laid to rest all that remains of another of Polk county’s grand old pioneers – the man who braved the travels incident to traveling into an almost unknown and wild country to found homes for themselves and families. That man was Mr J.W. Sevier, and the funeral was held from his home of the last 50 years in Cooper Hollow, the funeral being conducted by Rev Woods of Monmouth, pastor of the Christian church. A large concourse of friends and relatives followed the body to its last resting place. Mr Sevier has long been afflicted with cancer, and that was the ailment that at last caused his death, he bearing the suffering incident thereto with supreme fortitude for many years, until death stepped in and gave him relief. He passed away at midnight Tuesday. John Walton Sevier was born in Missouri in 1828, being 81 years old at the time of his death. He came to Oregon in 1852 and took up a donation land claim in Cooper Hollow, at one time owning all of what is now known as the hollow. Fifty years ago the 5th of last month, he was united in marriage with Martha Kibby, by B.M. Smith, and his worthy helpmeet is now left to mourn the loss of a loving husband. On November 5, their golden wedding anniversary, a number of their friends in that vicinity clubbed together and presented the happy couple with a purse of $30 as a remembrance gift. Nine children were born to the union, only three of whom are now alive: Henry Sevier of Pullman, Wash, James Sevier of Eugene, and Mrs Sevier [sic; Eliza, wife of Clarence McCaleb] of Cooper Hollow. He was a grandfather of Ray Sevier who passed away at Dallas this week. Only last week Mr Sevier was visited by a Mr Atkins who is securing affidavits for a suit against the government that has run along for many years, and which it is now said has been won by the Sevier heirs. The suit was brought by one of the heirs, a sister of Mr Sevier, living somewhere in the southern states, and it has been decided in her favor. It seems that in revolutionary times Mr Sevier’s father, for services we believe as a soldier, was paid off by grants of certain lands in the southern states. These lands were never realized on, either the government taking them back, or something else happening of which we are not fully informed. Anyway, they are now extremely valuable, large cities being on some of them, and the suit was brought to gain possession of them, or the principal and interest due from the government in lieu thereof. The sum total runs into millions of dollars as the share of the heirs in this vicinity and their latest information is to the effect that they can expect to receive what is coming to them in about six months. Polk County Itemizer, Thursday, December 9, 1909, 2:1 J.W. Sevier died of cancer at his home west of town early Wednesday morning. The funeral services were held at the home Thursday at 10 a.m. conducted by Rev W.A. Wood, and the interment was at the Smith Cemetery on the Luckiamute. Mr Sevier was born in Sheridan Co., Mo, Oct. 15, 1828, and came to Oregon in 1852 and has resided ever since in Polk Co. He married Martha Kibbey, and to them were born nine children, of whom only three are living. Monmouth Herald, Friday, December 10, 1909, 1:2
INSCRIPTION: 
J. Sevier
SOURCES: 
PCHS Genealogical Material in Oregon Donation Land Claims, Vol 2, page 78 Polk Co, Oregon, Marriage Records, 1849-1879, page 18 1870 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, FA #775) 1880 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, Bridgeport, ED 106, FA#246) 1900 OR CENSUS (Polk Co, Bridgeport, ED 174, FA#27) Polk County Itemizer, 9 Dec 1909, 2:1 Monmouth Herald, 10 Dec 1909, 1:2
CONTACTS: 
ROW: 16-6