Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 8.djvu/277

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HISTORIC SITES IN EUGENE AND MONUMENTS. 269 remember that to the west of Skinner's Butte there was a swale or stretch of low ground and that this cabin was located on ground slightly higher than the swale and not far distant from it." From Mr. Comegys, I find that Judge Boise has described this first court room itself and its surroundings correctly, but that he has erred in its location. According to Mr. Comegys, and several other of our pioneers, this log-cabin court room was situated near the present site of Mr. Midgley's planing mill. This cabin belonged to Hillyard Shaw, foreman of the Grand Jury, and the sawmill near by was also his property. Now, Judge Boise, too, mentions this sawmill and the only such mill here then was Mr. Shaw's mill. Hence the log cabin near it- must be the one in which the first term of court was held. At this initial session of the District Court, D. M. Risdon was admitted to practice law in this State, being the first attorney admitted here. The end of the first day's session was marked by the report of the Grand Jury that "they had no business before them. It was ordered by the Court that the said Grand Jury be discharged for the term." The second term of District Court for Lane County con- vened on October 5, 1853, Judge Matthew P. Deady presiding. Other officers of the Court present were : Joseph W. Drew, deputy U. S. Marshal ; L. F. Grover, U. S. District Attorney pro tern; W. Stewart Brock, Prosecuting Attorney for the Territory pro tern; E. F. Walker, sheriff; E. F. Skinner, clerk. At this session, John Diamond was admitted to citizenship, he being the first foreigner admitted to citizenship in Lane County. On October 6, 1853, there was called a case entitled: "Jonathan Keeney vs. Wm. Masterson et al. Action of Trover. ' ' And thereupon came a jury, twelve good and lawful men of the county, to-wit :