Husband to Emeline C. Hazeltine.
George "Irving" Hazeltine (5-4-1836 to 8-6-1918). 1862 pioneer of Canyon City, Oregon. He had worked as a photographer with his older brother, Martin M. Hazeltine (7-31-1827 to 2-16-1903), in California but went to Eastern Oregon in the gold rush of 1862, where he was one of the first persons to stake out a mining claim in what became the town of Canyon City. Not planning to stay, he ended up living the rest of his days there. In 1981 Irving's granddaughter, Helen Biggs Rand, published a history of the Hazeltines in Canyon City titled "Whiskey Gulch." This photo was supposed to be printed beside that of his wife, Emeline McCallum Hazeltine, on p. 68 of the book but was inadvertantly omitted.
You can read more about George in The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912
GEORGE IRVING HAZELTINE is one of the respected pioneers of Canyon City, Grant county, where he resides and is at present serving the public in the office of city treasurer. He was born in Cattaraugus
county. Now York, May 4, 1836, and is a son of Asa and Fanny (Bancroft) Hazeltine, both of whom were natives of Vermont, the mother being a relative of George Bancroft, the historian.
The father at an early date removed to Illinois, making the journey by way of New York where he remained for a short time and later reached the city of Chicago, in which place he was offered a whole section of land located in what is now the heart of the business district in exchange for a horse and blanket. After looking the place over carefully he concluded that Chicago was so unhealthy that he would be a loser in the deal and so declined the proffered opportunity. He continued bis journey westward and settled on the banks of Fox river where now stands the city of St. Charles, and there he lived until the time of his death which occurred in 1864.
Mr. and Mrs. Asa Hazeltine were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this review is the sixth child in order of birth. George Irving Hazeltine was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools at St, Charles, Illinois. In the spring of 1853 he started overland for California, by way of Mexico. On learning later that the Mexicans were still unfriendly owing to the late war, he discontinued his westward journey and returned to his home at St. Charles where he remained until the autumn of 1853.
In October of that year in company with his brother Martin M., he started for the Pacific coast this time by way of New York and from there by steamer to the Isthmus, which they crossed by the Nicaragua route and arrived in San Francisco in December, 1853. They reached New York at the time of the Crystal Palace Exhibition, which they visited before sailing for the west.
George Irving Hazeltine and his brother, Martin M,, had learned the art of photography some years previous and on reaching San Francisco they at once established themselves in the photographic business, making what was known at that time as the daguerreotypes. He continued in that partnership until 1S55 at which time he sold out his interest and engaged in mining on the south fork of the American river at the town of Coloma, which is the site of the first discovery of gold in California made by Mr. Marshall. At the time Mr. Hazeltine reached Coloma Mr. Marshall was still there as was also Sutter's Mill which has become famous in the history of California as the place in which Mr. Marshall was engaged in sawing lumber at the time of his great discovery of gold. Judge McKenna. of the United States supreme court was also a resident of Coloma at the time of Mr. Hazeltine's arrival there and the two men became much attached to each other.
From the time of Mr. Hazeltine's arrival at the point above named until the spring of 1857. ho was engaged in mining on Live Oak Bar and was very fortunate in his findings. He later invested in mining property and suffered a heavy loss by virtue of the failure of the properties to make good and also suffered loss through the Adams Express Company in 1855. After losing nearly all of his accumulated gold dust he established himself independently in the photographic business in which he continued for a few years. He later started for Oregon having the Salmon river basin as his objective point.
He followed the trail of emigrant parties who had left some two weeks previously, bound for the same part of the state. The emigrant train referred to was headed by a man whose name was McGruder. The company making the trip was composed of thirty-five Americans and twenty-five Mexicans and their means of travel and transportation were pack horses. On reaching the Pitt River they followed it to Goose lake and on their way prospected for gold, finding colors but no pay dirt until they reached Canyon creek. On the journey the' Indians gave them little or no serious trouble except by stealing a few of the Mexicans' horses. They arrived at Canyon creek July 4, 1860, at the time when the miners were holding a miners' meeting for the purpose of electing officers. Mr. Hazeltine at this time was associated in partnership with his brother-in-law, and also P. Van Middelsworth. They built a log house and located a claim and at once began mining operations. Mr. Hazeltine was then delegated to go to The Dalles in Oregon and there purchase a winter supply of provisions. The journey extended over something less than two hundred miles and he used pack horses with which to accomplish his mission. In the spring of 1863 he received a letter from his wife whom he had left in California and as a result of the information contained in that message he repaired at once to California by way of Portland and later, following the trail by which he had come there, in company with his wife and family and his father-in-law, he returned to his location on Canyon creek. During this journey they were attacked by Indians and one member of the party was hit by an arrow. They saw many graves while en route and a skeleton of a man who had been killed by Indians.
During his absence a friend by name Kennedy, who had been left in charge of his claim had sold it for one hundred and fifty dollars, Mr. Hazeltine receiving as his share an "invaluable" piece of furniture in the shape of a well worn cook-stove. He had, however, brought along with him his photographic outfit and knew how in times of misfortune and distress to turn the knowledge of his trade to good account. He accordingly at once built a house and in that wilderness established himself as a photographer. In the following year he engaged also in mining operations. In 1864 in company with others he established a pack-train service operating between Canyon City and The Dalles, but the Indians later stole all their horses and the enterprise was abandoned.
In the spring of 1865 he and his father-in-law, A.R. McCallum built a flour mill at John Day, Oregon, that being the first mill in eastern Oregon. In that business he engaged until 1874 at which time he sold his interest in the property and confined himself *to the photographic business until 1878. During the summer of 1874 he with his wife and two children paid a visit to his old home at St. Charles, Illinois, after which he returned to his home and business interests in Oregon. In 1878 he was elected county judge, serving four years in that office. He afterward engaged in photographic work until 1890 when he was again elected to that office serving from 1890 to 1894. In 1896 he was elected county treasurer serving for a term of two years. After his term expired he followed the brokerage business until 1908.
At present Mr. Hazeltine is ably serving as city treasurer of Canyon City, an office which he has held for the past ten years. In 1900 Mr. Hazeltine built the stone building which is now occupied by the First National Bank of Canyon City, retaining an office for himself in that building.
George Irving Hazeltine was united in marriage April 13, 1862, in Shasta county, California, to Miss Emeline C. McCallum, her birth having occurred on the Brandywine near the site of the famous battle of Brandywine in Schenectady, New York. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.R. McCallum, the former of whom was a native of Vermont, and of Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Scotland.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hazeltine four children have been born: Edith, the wife of Judge Clifford of Baker City, Oregon; Mabel, the deceased wife of John Biggs, of Burns, Oregon; Irving Bancroft, who is engaged in the mining and telephone business in eastern Oregon, and has his headquarters in Canyon City, Oregon; and Mildred, the wife of Professor Linden McCullough, who is engaged in teaching history in the high school of Baker City, Oregon.
George Irving Hazeltine has been a member of the Canyon City Masonic Lodge, No. 34, for the past thirty-six years, and has been secretary of that lodge for thirty-four years. He is also a member of Blue Mountain Chapter, No. 7, R.A.M., and of Blue Mountain Council, No. 10, R. & S.M. He is the secretary of each of the last named lodges. He is a member of Hobah Lodge, No. 22, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of Excelsior Encampment. No. 3, I.0.0.F., of both of which he is the secretary.
Mr. Hazeltine is one of the most interesting among the surviving pioneers of Oregon. His varied career of repeated success and failure in business is remarkable and particularly so as it resulted ultimately in final and assured prosperity crowned with the honor of being elected to many offices of public trust by his grateful constituents. He has been an active man all of his life and has devoted many years to unremunerative duties and public positions for the sake of the community in general. Despite his age of seventy-six years he is as industrious and active as ever. He is a man highly esteemed for his uniform and unquestioned integrity of character and this was given expression to on the 13th of April, 1912, at the time of the celebration of their golden wedding when both he and his wife were the recipients of many valuable remembrances presented by their large circle of acquaintances.
George "Irving" Hazeltine (5-4-1836 to 8-6-1918). 1862 pioneer of Canyon City, Oregon. He had worked as a photographer with his older brother, Martin M. Hazeltine (7-31-1827 to 2-16-1903), in California but went to Eastern Oregon in the gold rush of 1862, where he was one of the first persons to stake out a mining claim in what became the town of Canyon City. Not planning to stay, he ended up living the rest of his days there. In 1981 Irving's granddaughter, Helen Biggs Rand, published a history of the Hazeltines in Canyon City titled "Whiskey Gulch." This photo was supposed to be printed beside that of his wife, Emeline McCallum Hazeltine, on p. 68 of the book but was inadvertantly omitted.
You can read more about George in The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912
GEORGE IRVING HAZELTINE is one of the respected pioneers of Canyon City, Grant county, where he resides and is at present serving the public in the office of city treasurer. He was born in Cattaraugus
county. Now York, May 4, 1836, and is a son of Asa and Fanny (Bancroft) Hazeltine, both of whom were natives of Vermont, the mother being a relative of George Bancroft, the historian.
The father at an early date removed to Illinois, making the journey by way of New York where he remained for a short time and later reached the city of Chicago, in which place he was offered a whole section of land located in what is now the heart of the business district in exchange for a horse and blanket. After looking the place over carefully he concluded that Chicago was so unhealthy that he would be a loser in the deal and so declined the proffered opportunity. He continued bis journey westward and settled on the banks of Fox river where now stands the city of St. Charles, and there he lived until the time of his death which occurred in 1864.
Mr. and Mrs. Asa Hazeltine were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this review is the sixth child in order of birth. George Irving Hazeltine was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools at St, Charles, Illinois. In the spring of 1853 he started overland for California, by way of Mexico. On learning later that the Mexicans were still unfriendly owing to the late war, he discontinued his westward journey and returned to his home at St. Charles where he remained until the autumn of 1853.
In October of that year in company with his brother Martin M., he started for the Pacific coast this time by way of New York and from there by steamer to the Isthmus, which they crossed by the Nicaragua route and arrived in San Francisco in December, 1853. They reached New York at the time of the Crystal Palace Exhibition, which they visited before sailing for the west.
George Irving Hazeltine and his brother, Martin M,, had learned the art of photography some years previous and on reaching San Francisco they at once established themselves in the photographic business, making what was known at that time as the daguerreotypes. He continued in that partnership until 1S55 at which time he sold out his interest and engaged in mining on the south fork of the American river at the town of Coloma, which is the site of the first discovery of gold in California made by Mr. Marshall. At the time Mr. Hazeltine reached Coloma Mr. Marshall was still there as was also Sutter's Mill which has become famous in the history of California as the place in which Mr. Marshall was engaged in sawing lumber at the time of his great discovery of gold. Judge McKenna. of the United States supreme court was also a resident of Coloma at the time of Mr. Hazeltine's arrival there and the two men became much attached to each other.
From the time of Mr. Hazeltine's arrival at the point above named until the spring of 1857. ho was engaged in mining on Live Oak Bar and was very fortunate in his findings. He later invested in mining property and suffered a heavy loss by virtue of the failure of the properties to make good and also suffered loss through the Adams Express Company in 1855. After losing nearly all of his accumulated gold dust he established himself independently in the photographic business in which he continued for a few years. He later started for Oregon having the Salmon river basin as his objective point.
He followed the trail of emigrant parties who had left some two weeks previously, bound for the same part of the state. The emigrant train referred to was headed by a man whose name was McGruder. The company making the trip was composed of thirty-five Americans and twenty-five Mexicans and their means of travel and transportation were pack horses. On reaching the Pitt River they followed it to Goose lake and on their way prospected for gold, finding colors but no pay dirt until they reached Canyon creek. On the journey the' Indians gave them little or no serious trouble except by stealing a few of the Mexicans' horses. They arrived at Canyon creek July 4, 1860, at the time when the miners were holding a miners' meeting for the purpose of electing officers. Mr. Hazeltine at this time was associated in partnership with his brother-in-law, and also P. Van Middelsworth. They built a log house and located a claim and at once began mining operations. Mr. Hazeltine was then delegated to go to The Dalles in Oregon and there purchase a winter supply of provisions. The journey extended over something less than two hundred miles and he used pack horses with which to accomplish his mission. In the spring of 1863 he received a letter from his wife whom he had left in California and as a result of the information contained in that message he repaired at once to California by way of Portland and later, following the trail by which he had come there, in company with his wife and family and his father-in-law, he returned to his location on Canyon creek. During this journey they were attacked by Indians and one member of the party was hit by an arrow. They saw many graves while en route and a skeleton of a man who had been killed by Indians.
During his absence a friend by name Kennedy, who had been left in charge of his claim had sold it for one hundred and fifty dollars, Mr. Hazeltine receiving as his share an "invaluable" piece of furniture in the shape of a well worn cook-stove. He had, however, brought along with him his photographic outfit and knew how in times of misfortune and distress to turn the knowledge of his trade to good account. He accordingly at once built a house and in that wilderness established himself as a photographer. In the following year he engaged also in mining operations. In 1864 in company with others he established a pack-train service operating between Canyon City and The Dalles, but the Indians later stole all their horses and the enterprise was abandoned.
In the spring of 1865 he and his father-in-law, A.R. McCallum built a flour mill at John Day, Oregon, that being the first mill in eastern Oregon. In that business he engaged until 1874 at which time he sold his interest in the property and confined himself *to the photographic business until 1878. During the summer of 1874 he with his wife and two children paid a visit to his old home at St. Charles, Illinois, after which he returned to his home and business interests in Oregon. In 1878 he was elected county judge, serving four years in that office. He afterward engaged in photographic work until 1890 when he was again elected to that office serving from 1890 to 1894. In 1896 he was elected county treasurer serving for a term of two years. After his term expired he followed the brokerage business until 1908.
At present Mr. Hazeltine is ably serving as city treasurer of Canyon City, an office which he has held for the past ten years. In 1900 Mr. Hazeltine built the stone building which is now occupied by the First National Bank of Canyon City, retaining an office for himself in that building.
George Irving Hazeltine was united in marriage April 13, 1862, in Shasta county, California, to Miss Emeline C. McCallum, her birth having occurred on the Brandywine near the site of the famous battle of Brandywine in Schenectady, New York. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.R. McCallum, the former of whom was a native of Vermont, and of Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Scotland.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hazeltine four children have been born: Edith, the wife of Judge Clifford of Baker City, Oregon; Mabel, the deceased wife of John Biggs, of Burns, Oregon; Irving Bancroft, who is engaged in the mining and telephone business in eastern Oregon, and has his headquarters in Canyon City, Oregon; and Mildred, the wife of Professor Linden McCullough, who is engaged in teaching history in the high school of Baker City, Oregon.
George Irving Hazeltine has been a member of the Canyon City Masonic Lodge, No. 34, for the past thirty-six years, and has been secretary of that lodge for thirty-four years. He is also a member of Blue Mountain Chapter, No. 7, R.A.M., and of Blue Mountain Council, No. 10, R. & S.M. He is the secretary of each of the last named lodges. He is a member of Hobah Lodge, No. 22, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of Excelsior Encampment. No. 3, I.0.0.F., of both of which he is the secretary.
Mr. Hazeltine is one of the most interesting among the surviving pioneers of Oregon. His varied career of repeated success and failure in business is remarkable and particularly so as it resulted ultimately in final and assured prosperity crowned with the honor of being elected to many offices of public trust by his grateful constituents. He has been an active man all of his life and has devoted many years to unremunerative duties and public positions for the sake of the community in general. Despite his age of seventy-six years he is as industrious and active as ever. He is a man highly esteemed for his uniform and unquestioned integrity of character and this was given expression to on the 13th of April, 1912, at the time of the celebration of their golden wedding when both he and his wife were the recipients of many valuable remembrances presented by their large circle of acquaintances.
Husband to Emeline C. Hazeltine.
George "Irving" Hazeltine (5-4-1836 to 8-6-1918). 1862 pioneer of Canyon City, Oregon. He had worked as a photographer with his older brother, Martin M. Hazeltine (7-31-1827 to 2-16-1903), in California but went to Eastern Oregon in the gold rush of 1862, where he was one of the first persons to stake out a mining claim in what became the town of Canyon City. Not planning to stay, he ended up living the rest of his days there. In 1981 Irving's granddaughter, Helen Biggs Rand, published a history of the Hazeltines in Canyon City titled "Whiskey Gulch." This photo was supposed to be printed beside that of his wife, Emeline McCallum Hazeltine, on p. 68 of the book but was inadvertantly omitted.
You can read more about George in The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912
GEORGE IRVING HAZELTINE is one of the respected pioneers of Canyon City, Grant county, where he resides and is at present serving the public in the office of city treasurer. He was born in Cattaraugus
county. Now York, May 4, 1836, and is a son of Asa and Fanny (Bancroft) Hazeltine, both of whom were natives of Vermont, the mother being a relative of George Bancroft, the historian.
The father at an early date removed to Illinois, making the journey by way of New York where he remained for a short time and later reached the city of Chicago, in which place he was offered a whole section of land located in what is now the heart of the business district in exchange for a horse and blanket. After looking the place over carefully he concluded that Chicago was so unhealthy that he would be a loser in the deal and so declined the proffered opportunity. He continued bis journey westward and settled on the banks of Fox river where now stands the city of St. Charles, and there he lived until the time of his death which occurred in 1864.
Mr. and Mrs. Asa Hazeltine were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this review is the sixth child in order of birth. George Irving Hazeltine was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools at St, Charles, Illinois. In the spring of 1853 he started overland for California, by way of Mexico. On learning later that the Mexicans were still unfriendly owing to the late war, he discontinued his westward journey and returned to his home at St. Charles where he remained until the autumn of 1853.
In October of that year in company with his brother Martin M., he started for the Pacific coast this time by way of New York and from there by steamer to the Isthmus, which they crossed by the Nicaragua route and arrived in San Francisco in December, 1853. They reached New York at the time of the Crystal Palace Exhibition, which they visited before sailing for the west.
George Irving Hazeltine and his brother, Martin M,, had learned the art of photography some years previous and on reaching San Francisco they at once established themselves in the photographic business, making what was known at that time as the daguerreotypes. He continued in that partnership until 1S55 at which time he sold out his interest and engaged in mining on the south fork of the American river at the town of Coloma, which is the site of the first discovery of gold in California made by Mr. Marshall. At the time Mr. Hazeltine reached Coloma Mr. Marshall was still there as was also Sutter's Mill which has become famous in the history of California as the place in which Mr. Marshall was engaged in sawing lumber at the time of his great discovery of gold. Judge McKenna. of the United States supreme court was also a resident of Coloma at the time of Mr. Hazeltine's arrival there and the two men became much attached to each other.
From the time of Mr. Hazeltine's arrival at the point above named until the spring of 1857. ho was engaged in mining on Live Oak Bar and was very fortunate in his findings. He later invested in mining property and suffered a heavy loss by virtue of the failure of the properties to make good and also suffered loss through the Adams Express Company in 1855. After losing nearly all of his accumulated gold dust he established himself independently in the photographic business in which he continued for a few years. He later started for Oregon having the Salmon river basin as his objective point.
He followed the trail of emigrant parties who had left some two weeks previously, bound for the same part of the state. The emigrant train referred to was headed by a man whose name was McGruder. The company making the trip was composed of thirty-five Americans and twenty-five Mexicans and their means of travel and transportation were pack horses. On reaching the Pitt River they followed it to Goose lake and on their way prospected for gold, finding colors but no pay dirt until they reached Canyon creek. On the journey the' Indians gave them little or no serious trouble except by stealing a few of the Mexicans' horses. They arrived at Canyon creek July 4, 1860, at the time when the miners were holding a miners' meeting for the purpose of electing officers. Mr. Hazeltine at this time was associated in partnership with his brother-in-law, and also P. Van Middelsworth. They built a log house and located a claim and at once began mining operations. Mr. Hazeltine was then delegated to go to The Dalles in Oregon and there purchase a winter supply of provisions. The journey extended over something less than two hundred miles and he used pack horses with which to accomplish his mission. In the spring of 1863 he received a letter from his wife whom he had left in California and as a result of the information contained in that message he repaired at once to California by way of Portland and later, following the trail by which he had come there, in company with his wife and family and his father-in-law, he returned to his location on Canyon creek. During this journey they were attacked by Indians and one member of the party was hit by an arrow. They saw many graves while en route and a skeleton of a man who had been killed by Indians.
During his absence a friend by name Kennedy, who had been left in charge of his claim had sold it for one hundred and fifty dollars, Mr. Hazeltine receiving as his share an "invaluable" piece of furniture in the shape of a well worn cook-stove. He had, however, brought along with him his photographic outfit and knew how in times of misfortune and distress to turn the knowledge of his trade to good account. He accordingly at once built a house and in that wilderness established himself as a photographer. In the following year he engaged also in mining operations. In 1864 in company with others he established a pack-train service operating between Canyon City and The Dalles, but the Indians later stole all their horses and the enterprise was abandoned.
In the spring of 1865 he and his father-in-law, A.R. McCallum built a flour mill at John Day, Oregon, that being the first mill in eastern Oregon. In that business he engaged until 1874 at which time he sold his interest in the property and confined himself *to the photographic business until 1878. During the summer of 1874 he with his wife and two children paid a visit to his old home at St. Charles, Illinois, after which he returned to his home and business interests in Oregon. In 1878 he was elected county judge, serving four years in that office. He afterward engaged in photographic work until 1890 when he was again elected to that office serving from 1890 to 1894. In 1896 he was elected county treasurer serving for a term of two years. After his term expired he followed the brokerage business until 1908.
At present Mr. Hazeltine is ably serving as city treasurer of Canyon City, an office which he has held for the past ten years. In 1900 Mr. Hazeltine built the stone building which is now occupied by the First National Bank of Canyon City, retaining an office for himself in that building.
George Irving Hazeltine was united in marriage April 13, 1862, in Shasta county, California, to Miss Emeline C. McCallum, her birth having occurred on the Brandywine near the site of the famous battle of Brandywine in Schenectady, New York. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.R. McCallum, the former of whom was a native of Vermont, and of Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Scotland.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hazeltine four children have been born: Edith, the wife of Judge Clifford of Baker City, Oregon; Mabel, the deceased wife of John Biggs, of Burns, Oregon; Irving Bancroft, who is engaged in the mining and telephone business in eastern Oregon, and has his headquarters in Canyon City, Oregon; and Mildred, the wife of Professor Linden McCullough, who is engaged in teaching history in the high school of Baker City, Oregon.
George Irving Hazeltine has been a member of the Canyon City Masonic Lodge, No. 34, for the past thirty-six years, and has been secretary of that lodge for thirty-four years. He is also a member of Blue Mountain Chapter, No. 7, R.A.M., and of Blue Mountain Council, No. 10, R. & S.M. He is the secretary of each of the last named lodges. He is a member of Hobah Lodge, No. 22, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of Excelsior Encampment. No. 3, I.0.0.F., of both of which he is the secretary.
Mr. Hazeltine is one of the most interesting among the surviving pioneers of Oregon. His varied career of repeated success and failure in business is remarkable and particularly so as it resulted ultimately in final and assured prosperity crowned with the honor of being elected to many offices of public trust by his grateful constituents. He has been an active man all of his life and has devoted many years to unremunerative duties and public positions for the sake of the community in general. Despite his age of seventy-six years he is as industrious and active as ever. He is a man highly esteemed for his uniform and unquestioned integrity of character and this was given expression to on the 13th of April, 1912, at the time of the celebration of their golden wedding when both he and his wife were the recipients of many valuable remembrances presented by their large circle of acquaintances.
George "Irving" Hazeltine (5-4-1836 to 8-6-1918). 1862 pioneer of Canyon City, Oregon. He had worked as a photographer with his older brother, Martin M. Hazeltine (7-31-1827 to 2-16-1903), in California but went to Eastern Oregon in the gold rush of 1862, where he was one of the first persons to stake out a mining claim in what became the town of Canyon City. Not planning to stay, he ended up living the rest of his days there. In 1981 Irving's granddaughter, Helen Biggs Rand, published a history of the Hazeltines in Canyon City titled "Whiskey Gulch." This photo was supposed to be printed beside that of his wife, Emeline McCallum Hazeltine, on p. 68 of the book but was inadvertantly omitted.
You can read more about George in The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912
GEORGE IRVING HAZELTINE is one of the respected pioneers of Canyon City, Grant county, where he resides and is at present serving the public in the office of city treasurer. He was born in Cattaraugus
county. Now York, May 4, 1836, and is a son of Asa and Fanny (Bancroft) Hazeltine, both of whom were natives of Vermont, the mother being a relative of George Bancroft, the historian.
The father at an early date removed to Illinois, making the journey by way of New York where he remained for a short time and later reached the city of Chicago, in which place he was offered a whole section of land located in what is now the heart of the business district in exchange for a horse and blanket. After looking the place over carefully he concluded that Chicago was so unhealthy that he would be a loser in the deal and so declined the proffered opportunity. He continued bis journey westward and settled on the banks of Fox river where now stands the city of St. Charles, and there he lived until the time of his death which occurred in 1864.
Mr. and Mrs. Asa Hazeltine were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this review is the sixth child in order of birth. George Irving Hazeltine was reared at home and received his early education in the public schools at St, Charles, Illinois. In the spring of 1853 he started overland for California, by way of Mexico. On learning later that the Mexicans were still unfriendly owing to the late war, he discontinued his westward journey and returned to his home at St. Charles where he remained until the autumn of 1853.
In October of that year in company with his brother Martin M., he started for the Pacific coast this time by way of New York and from there by steamer to the Isthmus, which they crossed by the Nicaragua route and arrived in San Francisco in December, 1853. They reached New York at the time of the Crystal Palace Exhibition, which they visited before sailing for the west.
George Irving Hazeltine and his brother, Martin M,, had learned the art of photography some years previous and on reaching San Francisco they at once established themselves in the photographic business, making what was known at that time as the daguerreotypes. He continued in that partnership until 1S55 at which time he sold out his interest and engaged in mining on the south fork of the American river at the town of Coloma, which is the site of the first discovery of gold in California made by Mr. Marshall. At the time Mr. Hazeltine reached Coloma Mr. Marshall was still there as was also Sutter's Mill which has become famous in the history of California as the place in which Mr. Marshall was engaged in sawing lumber at the time of his great discovery of gold. Judge McKenna. of the United States supreme court was also a resident of Coloma at the time of Mr. Hazeltine's arrival there and the two men became much attached to each other.
From the time of Mr. Hazeltine's arrival at the point above named until the spring of 1857. ho was engaged in mining on Live Oak Bar and was very fortunate in his findings. He later invested in mining property and suffered a heavy loss by virtue of the failure of the properties to make good and also suffered loss through the Adams Express Company in 1855. After losing nearly all of his accumulated gold dust he established himself independently in the photographic business in which he continued for a few years. He later started for Oregon having the Salmon river basin as his objective point.
He followed the trail of emigrant parties who had left some two weeks previously, bound for the same part of the state. The emigrant train referred to was headed by a man whose name was McGruder. The company making the trip was composed of thirty-five Americans and twenty-five Mexicans and their means of travel and transportation were pack horses. On reaching the Pitt River they followed it to Goose lake and on their way prospected for gold, finding colors but no pay dirt until they reached Canyon creek. On the journey the' Indians gave them little or no serious trouble except by stealing a few of the Mexicans' horses. They arrived at Canyon creek July 4, 1860, at the time when the miners were holding a miners' meeting for the purpose of electing officers. Mr. Hazeltine at this time was associated in partnership with his brother-in-law, and also P. Van Middelsworth. They built a log house and located a claim and at once began mining operations. Mr. Hazeltine was then delegated to go to The Dalles in Oregon and there purchase a winter supply of provisions. The journey extended over something less than two hundred miles and he used pack horses with which to accomplish his mission. In the spring of 1863 he received a letter from his wife whom he had left in California and as a result of the information contained in that message he repaired at once to California by way of Portland and later, following the trail by which he had come there, in company with his wife and family and his father-in-law, he returned to his location on Canyon creek. During this journey they were attacked by Indians and one member of the party was hit by an arrow. They saw many graves while en route and a skeleton of a man who had been killed by Indians.
During his absence a friend by name Kennedy, who had been left in charge of his claim had sold it for one hundred and fifty dollars, Mr. Hazeltine receiving as his share an "invaluable" piece of furniture in the shape of a well worn cook-stove. He had, however, brought along with him his photographic outfit and knew how in times of misfortune and distress to turn the knowledge of his trade to good account. He accordingly at once built a house and in that wilderness established himself as a photographer. In the following year he engaged also in mining operations. In 1864 in company with others he established a pack-train service operating between Canyon City and The Dalles, but the Indians later stole all their horses and the enterprise was abandoned.
In the spring of 1865 he and his father-in-law, A.R. McCallum built a flour mill at John Day, Oregon, that being the first mill in eastern Oregon. In that business he engaged until 1874 at which time he sold his interest in the property and confined himself *to the photographic business until 1878. During the summer of 1874 he with his wife and two children paid a visit to his old home at St. Charles, Illinois, after which he returned to his home and business interests in Oregon. In 1878 he was elected county judge, serving four years in that office. He afterward engaged in photographic work until 1890 when he was again elected to that office serving from 1890 to 1894. In 1896 he was elected county treasurer serving for a term of two years. After his term expired he followed the brokerage business until 1908.
At present Mr. Hazeltine is ably serving as city treasurer of Canyon City, an office which he has held for the past ten years. In 1900 Mr. Hazeltine built the stone building which is now occupied by the First National Bank of Canyon City, retaining an office for himself in that building.
George Irving Hazeltine was united in marriage April 13, 1862, in Shasta county, California, to Miss Emeline C. McCallum, her birth having occurred on the Brandywine near the site of the famous battle of Brandywine in Schenectady, New York. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.R. McCallum, the former of whom was a native of Vermont, and of Scotch descent, and the latter a native of Scotland.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hazeltine four children have been born: Edith, the wife of Judge Clifford of Baker City, Oregon; Mabel, the deceased wife of John Biggs, of Burns, Oregon; Irving Bancroft, who is engaged in the mining and telephone business in eastern Oregon, and has his headquarters in Canyon City, Oregon; and Mildred, the wife of Professor Linden McCullough, who is engaged in teaching history in the high school of Baker City, Oregon.
George Irving Hazeltine has been a member of the Canyon City Masonic Lodge, No. 34, for the past thirty-six years, and has been secretary of that lodge for thirty-four years. He is also a member of Blue Mountain Chapter, No. 7, R.A.M., and of Blue Mountain Council, No. 10, R. & S.M. He is the secretary of each of the last named lodges. He is a member of Hobah Lodge, No. 22, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of Excelsior Encampment. No. 3, I.0.0.F., of both of which he is the secretary.
Mr. Hazeltine is one of the most interesting among the surviving pioneers of Oregon. His varied career of repeated success and failure in business is remarkable and particularly so as it resulted ultimately in final and assured prosperity crowned with the honor of being elected to many offices of public trust by his grateful constituents. He has been an active man all of his life and has devoted many years to unremunerative duties and public positions for the sake of the community in general. Despite his age of seventy-six years he is as industrious and active as ever. He is a man highly esteemed for his uniform and unquestioned integrity of character and this was given expression to on the 13th of April, 1912, at the time of the celebration of their golden wedding when both he and his wife were the recipients of many valuable remembrances presented by their large circle of acquaintances.
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