Creffield and the Holy Rollers made page one headlines from 1903 to 1907. When I was researching Holy Rollers: Murder and Madness in Oregon’s Love Cult I spent months transcribing hundreds of articles. I’m not sure why I was so obsessive. Maybe it was my way of immersing my self into a cult without joining one. Anyway, I’m posting them all for those who are really interested in the story, or are interested the history of journalism, or are interested in how a scandalous story played out in the "media" in a by gone era. Since I no doubt made typos and unconsciously corrected papers' typos, these web pages should not be cited in anything serious (e.g. your dissertation). For such projects they should only be used as starting points and you should refer to the original sources. If you want a shorter version of the story, buy my book. Enjoy.
1902: Local Lore, News Of Corvallis and Vicinity Told in Brief B. C. (Before Creffield)
Most of these
earliest articles are from the Corvallis Gazette and Corvallis Times, the latter of which had a regular feature titled, Local Lore, News Of Corvallis and Vicinity
Told in Brief, The comings and Goings of People, Social Gossip, Personal
Mention and Other Items of Public Interest. While not as juicy as the later stuff (the sex scandals, the mass
insanity, the murders, etc.) they do give one a glimpse into what life in
Oregon was like in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Corvallis Times 1/25/1902 p3
Victor Hurt
has sold his residence property on Main Street to E. Walden. The house is at
present unoccupied. It is to be repaired for rental purposes.
Corvallis Gazette Fri 2/21/1902 p3 “Central
Committee Meeting.”
The
Republican County Central Committee will meet at the court
house, Friday, February 28, 1902 to arrange dates for holding the
primaries and conventions, and to transact any other business that may
regularly come before them.
O. V. Hurt,
Chairman
L. W. Orin,
Secretary
Corvallis Times 2/26/1902 p3
OV Hurt and
family went to Portland Saturday.
Corvallis Times 3/1/1902 p3
Victor Hurt
arrived Wednesday from Portland. He went down Saturday with Mrs. Hurt and child
to visit a son and daughter in Portland. Mrs. Hurt is still there.
Mr. Levy, a
brother-in-law of O. V. Hurt, is expected in Corvallis in two or three weeks. His
three-story business was recently destroyed by fire. The loss was $45,000 and
the insurance $31,000. Mr. Levy is looking for a location in the west.
Corvallis Gazette 4/8/1902 p3
Bert Sharp
has had the old livery stable on Main Street, opposite Phillips blacksmith
shop, repaired and fitted up as a feed stable. He is now ready for business and
solicits the patronage of the public.
Corvallis Gazette 7/11/1902 p3
Mrs. O. V.
Hurt and children expect to leave during the fore part of next week for Salem
where she will attend the annual union camp meeting that will continue for a
week or such a matter.
Corvallis Times 11/8/1902 p3
Mrs. Oscar
Starr and Miss Lora Ship are guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hurt.
Corvallis Gazette Fri 12/12/1902 p3
Mrs. B. E.
Starr returned to her home in Portland yesterday after a two-week’s visit with
her sister, Mrs. O. V. Hurt.
Corvallis Gazette Tue 12/23/1902 p3
O. V. Hurt
is the owner of a two-year-old Jersey cow, which is one of the finest dairy
animals in the state. A test of her milk made by Professor Kent of the O A C
shows 7.8 percent of butter fat. This is the highest percentage shown by any
test ever made at the college.
Corvallis Times 1/25/1902 p3
Frank Hurt
is one of the check clerks for the big government transport that has been
loading for several days at Portland, being temporarily in the service of the
government by permission of the O R & N Co., with which company he is
regularly employed. His pay in the transport is 40 cents per hour.
Corvallis Times 1/28/1903 p2
Highest in Eleven Years
Willamette and Mary’s River
out of their Banks--Water Everywhere
For the
past two or three days the Willamette and Mary’s rivers have been at the
highest stage of water reached since the great flood of 1891. The highest point
was touched at two o’clock Monday morning when the markings on gauges along the
river-front indicated 27 1/2 feet above low water, or three feet higher than
the late freshets of the present season ... There was two inches of water on the floor of Victor Hurt’s house,
and four inches of the floor of the warehouse at Fischer Mills.
Corvallis Gazette 2/7/1902 p3
Major
Dubbin, of Portland, will preach in the Salvation Army hall Thursday evening,
February 13th. Coffee and cake will be served for 10 cents. All are cordially
invited.
Corvallis Times 2/8/1902 p3
Major
Dubbin of Portland will preach in the Salvation Army hall on Thursday next. Coffee
and cake will be served after meeting. You are cordially invited to come.
Corvallis Gazette 2/25/1902 p3
J. K. Berry
at the Bicycle Hospital has been improving the interior of his place of
business. He has moved his repair shop to the rear and has fitted up the front
of the building very tastily for his new stock of wheels.
The Bicycle
Hospital has just received the largest and finest stock of Rambler bicycles
ever brought to Corvallis. See them.
Corvallis Gazette 4/8/1902 p3
Frank Hurt
is home from Portland on a visit.
Fred
Porter, Oliver Wicks and Frank Hurt are among the number who purchased high grade Rambler wheels from J. K. Berry last week.
Corvallis Gazette 4/15/1902 p3
A Salvation
Army man was in the city yesterday collecting self-denial funds for the Army. S.
A. men only come to Albany as visitors, the support here having been so poor as
to make it a poor field for the army, the work of which is covered by the
churches
Corvallis Gazette 5/09/1902 p3
Monday
evening the fire boys were called out to extinguish a small blaze in the
building owned by Thos. Whitehorn, just south of the Salvation Army barracks. Tuesday
afternoon the roof of the building adjoining the Whitehorn building caught
fire, but the department soon had it under control.
Corvallis Times 5/24/1902 p3
News
received in Corvallis by Warren Hartley is to the effect that his father has
made a fine strike on a claim just opened up in the Bohemia mines. The vein of
ore is three feet and assays give the return of $245.61 per ton. The claim is
one of five located by Mr. Hartley for a number of Corvallis people, and is
said to be one of the best locations in Bohemia district.
Corvallis Times Tue 6/17/1902 p3
The
spiritualists of the vicinity have formed an organization to be known as “First
Spiritual Union of Corvallis.” Barrett Lyceum is to be used by the association.
Next Sunday at 2:30 p.m. will be held the fist public meeting of the Union. All
friends cordially invited.
Corvallis Gazette 6/17/1902 p3
J. K. Berry
holds the championship for wheel-selling in Corvallis
for this year. He has sold 55 wheels during this season, with prospects of
selling a good many more. The majority of the wheels sold by Mr. Berry have
been Ramblers with a few Ideals and Mitchells. He is also agent for the world-wide known Tribune, the wheel that holds the world’s
record speed.
Corvallis Gazette 6/20/1902 p3
Joe, the
Turk, is to be the attraction at the Salvation Army hall tonight. He has an
international reputation, having traveled through England, France, Greece and all over the United States. He wears a full
Turkish costume, and plays the coronet, clarinet and saxophone. He will exhibit
some photographs of the Armenian massacres.
Corvallis Times 7/9/1902 p3
Captain H B
Vaudalin will be in Corvallis Wednesday July 9th, and conduct the welcome
meeting at the Salvation Army Hall. He is said to be a fine cornet player.
Corvallis Gazette 7/11/1902 p3
Saturday
night, July 12th, will be the welcome meeting of Captain H. B. Vidalin of Baker
City at the Salvation Army hall. Everybody is invited to attend and give the
new captain a rousing welcome.
Corvallis Times 7/12/1902 p3
Captain
Vidalin will arrive on Saturday July 12th not Wednesday as first announced, and
hold his welcome meeting in Salvation Army Hall.
Corvallis Times 7/12/1902 p3
Local Mining Men
A Company with Capital of
More than a Million--Article Filed
At the
clerks office the Great Eastern Mining Company has filed articles of
incorporation. The incorporators are Horace Lilly, T H Wellsher, August W.
Fischer, W W Calkins, George Lilly, A K Milner, and Lewis Hartley. The capital
stock is $1,250,000, divided into 1,250,000 shares of $1 each. Nine hundred
thousand shares are to be issued to the incorporation to be paid for in full by
deed to said corporation of certain mines owned by the incorporators in
proportion to the value agreed upon by said incorporators. The remaining
350,000 shares are to be held as treasury stock and are to be sold under the
direction of the board of directors, and the proceeds thereof is to be used in
the prosecution of the business of the corporation. The principal office is to
be at Corvallis, OR. The duration of the corporation is to be indefinite.
The
enterprise, business and occupation in which the incorporation is to engage, is
the purchasing, owning, leasing, working, operating, buying and selling for
profit, mines and mineral claims in Oregon. Also the
construction, purchasing, leasing and operation of water ditches and quartz
mills, and doing other necessary or convenient to the successful prosecution of
the work of mining. The company owns mines in the Bohemia district.
Corvallis Times 7/19/1902 p3
Mrs. Lewis
Hartley and family left Thursday for the Bohemia mines where they will spend
the summer.
Corvallis Times 7/26/1902 p3
Miss Mollie
Sandal, of Seattle arrived Wednesday, of Seattle, arrived Wednesday and is the
guest of Corvallis friends.
Corvallis Times 8/2/1902 p3
Peaches in
the Kiger orchard will be ready for picking tomorrow. The present crop is of
the Hales Early variety, and is a light one, though the fruit is excellent in
size and flavor. The peaches are to be sold in the orchard at 50¢ per bushel,
buyers to pick them. The crops of early and late Crawfords will both be light,
and will be sold at a dollar per bushel in the orchard. Parties reach the
orchard either by ford or ferry.
Corvallis Times 10/4/1902 p3
A town
youngster was arrested the other day for disturbing a Salvation Army meeting. He
stood trial in the police court and a jury of six men listened to the
testimony. Two of his young friends testified in his behalf, and in their
efforts to clear him swore that they made as much racket at the meeting as did
he. Then the officials arrested them and on their own evidence the court
pronounced them guilty. The jury found the first one guilty also, and fines of
$10 each were assessed against all.
Corvallis Gazette 10/17/1902 p3
Colonel
Geo. French, Commander of the Pacific Coast Province of the Salvation Arm, and
Major Dubbin of Portland, will be in Corvallis, Wednesday, Oct. 22 and conduct
an Army meeting at the Salvation Army Hall. This is the first visit of the
Colonel, so don’t fail to hear him. Look out for the poster announcement.
Corvallis Times 10/18/1902 p3
Wednesday
Oct. 22 will be a red letter day for the Salvation
Army in Corvallis as Col. George French, Pacific Coast Commander will be here
accompanied by Major R. Dubbin of Portland. A meeting will be held at the Army
Hall and everybody is cordially invited.
Corvallis Times 10/22/1902 p3
The meeting
announced for Col. French at Salvation Army barracks for this Wednesday evening
occurred last night.
Corvallis Gazette 11/4/1902 p3
J.K. Berry
has just put a new Fairbanks & Morse gasoline engine of one and one-half horse power in his bicycle factory. He is soon to install a
larger lather and emery wheel. It is also his intention to place a compressed
air tank in his establishment. From the latter two tubes will extend, one tube
for use in the shop and the other will run outside the building so that
bicyclists may connect their tires, touch a button and have them inflated. The
engine is used to operate the various bits of machinery soon to be in use at
this establishment. He also intends to put in a large enameling oven and a dip
tank for enameling bicycles.
Newberg Graphic 11/1902/1891 p3
Charley
Mitchell has charge of the land Mr. Votaw of Tacoma bought of Marion George and
is preparing to set a large orchard on it.
Corvallis Gazette 12/5/1902 p3
Functus Officio
The big
drum of the Salvation Army is no longer in evidence about eight o’clock each
evening and tambourines are very cheap in Corvallis. The army has gone to its
religious “Waterloo”--it met a body of Divine Healers, Army of Holiness, or
something, and went over to the enemy. True religion of a respectable
character, a religion that is reasonable, that commands at least the respect of
the greatest thinkers and the better class of people, is the last thing on
earth that should be treated in a contemptuous manner. But a “holy show” that
is a burlesque on religion is a bad thing for any community as it is not taken
seriously and consequently lays the foundation for the youth of the land to
scoff at religion in any form. There should be reason and moderation in all
things. There may be efficacy in prayer--who can say there is not?--but it must
be the prayer of a sane mind and a reasonable being. The prayer of a religious
fanatic cannot avail much.
Corvallis Gazette 12/9/1902 p3
The
familiar sound of the Salvation Army drum is again heard in Corvallis. Captain
Samuel Dupertuis, the leader of the Northern Pacific Revival Brigade, arrived
in this city Saturday and has been holding enthusiastic meetings. He will
preach tonight on the subject “The Two Ways.” Tomorrow night Captain Dupertuis
will give a stereopticon lecture entitled “Ten Nights in a Barroom,” with Side
Lights.
From the
Salvation Army
Corvallis Gazette Fri 12/12/1902 p3
Mrs. B. E.
Starr returned to her home in Portland yesterday after a two-week visit with
her sister, Mrs. O. V. Hurt.
Dalles Weekly Chronicle 12/10/1902 p3
The
Holiness Band, which has been holding meetings at private homes, has now rented
the building south of the Columbia Hotel and will conduct services on Wednesday
and Friday evenings.
Sunday Oregonian (Portland) 12/14/1902 p11
To Conduct Salvation Army
Meetings
Meetings of
unusual interest will take place at the Salvation Army Hall, Third and Davis
streets, today and tomorrow, December 14 and 15. Major and Mrs. Dubbin, the
divisional commanders, will be in charge, and will be assisted by prominent
members of the Divisional Revival Brigade; also the entire Rescue Home staff. The
meetings on Sunday commence at 11 A. M. and 3 and 8 P. M., all of which will be
of a revival character. The Major and others will deliver special addresses,
and the revival singers will introduce new songs.
On Monday
night the Major will conduct the hallelujah wedding of Myra Kinney and Captain
Samuel Dupertuis. Ensign Kinney is the matron of the Salvation Army Rescue
Home, and is well known and much loved for the noble work she has accomplished
during the years she has been in charge of this important branch of the Army
work in the city. Captain Samuel Dupertuis, while not so well known as the
Ensign is, nevertheless, a promising young officer, and has done successful
work in Portland No. 2 Post, on the East Side, Seattle and elsewhere. He is at
present in charge of the Divisional Revival Brigade. Captain and Mrs. Roberts,
from California, and Ensign and Mrs. Hill, from Chicago, who are taking charge
of Corps Nos. 1 and 4, will also be welcomed in this meeting, and the entire
forces will unite.
(Photo of
“Major and Mrs. Dubbin.)
Morning Oregonian (Portland) 12/15/1902 p14
Army Has a Lively Day
Salvation Cohorts Hold
Services to Save Souls
A lively
day was spent at the Salvation Army Hall on Davis Street, yesterday. Major
Dubbin, assisted by Ensign Kinney and Captains Stover and Dupertuis of the
Revival Brigade, conducted very enthusiastic meetings. The open-air services
were attractive and attended by large crowds of men of every class and
description.
The morning
service in the hall was of unusual interest. Major Dubbin spoke with power
from, “I know thou livest but art dead.” In the course of his remarks he said:
“God knows the heart, he is well acquainted with our ways; nothing is hid from
his all-seeing eye, and the condition of man’s heart is what God looks at. He
knows our works; he not only sees them, but he knows them, he knows the motive which prompts the actions. God demands whole-hearted
service, he despieth that sort of neutrality which would be a Christian and yet
not radically so, a sinner and yet put on religion as a cloak. God,” said he
with emphasis, “will spew you out of his mouth if you try to live after this
lukewarm fashion.”
The
audience attentively listened and when the appeal for those who desired to live
better lives was made, five people came forward.
The
afternoon meeting was well attended, and on the platform was a happy lot of lads and lassies. Captain Stover sang a solo, and Captain Dupertuis preached
from “Therefore, thou art inexcusable.” “You,” said he, “who have heard the
gospel preached and sung, and listened to the songs of Zion, and the stirring
testimonies of those who profess to know God, and have felt its power, and been
moved by its influence, you for whom prayers have been offered, and tears been
shed from your infancy until now, are without excuse. God in providing
salvation has done all he can and all that needs (the rest of the article was
missing)
Corvallis Gazette Fri 12/16/1902 p3
Captain
Dupertuis who has been holding meetings in the Salvation Army hall for a few
nights has returned to Portland where he is due for ten days meetings. There
will be no services in the hall until after the holidays when new officers will
arrive.
Corvallis
Times 1/7/1903 p2
Fire! Fire Fire!”
The
Salvation Army will open fire on Wednesday eve. Jan 7th. The meeting will be
conducted by the officers who have just arrived from San Francisco, where one
week of special meetings were conducted by General Booth, the
leader and founder of The Salvation Army. The General spoke very
elevating of the Army work in America since his last visit four years ago, the
result of the campaign was nearly 300 souls converted and about 400 officers
baptized with the fire of the Holy Ghost. Very special meetings will be held in
Corvallis, soliciting the attendance of all. Officer in charge, Captain C.E.
Brooks, Lieutenant C.E. Mannes
Corvallis Times 1/10/1903 p3
For
sometime until recently the doors of the Salvation Army Hall were closed and
the boom of the army drum was unheard. It is different now. The organization
seems to have taken on a new life and there was quite and awakening and the red hot time Wednesday night. Captain C. E. Brooks and Lt.
C. E. Mannes arrived the first of the week freshly imbued with the enthusiasm
of General Booth whose meetings they had been attending in San Francisco. The first meeting was attended by several enthusiastic members from Philomath. Continued services will be held in Corvallis with occasional
meetings in the country. The officers request it to be stated that the
character of the meetings will be of the old-time fire and that all are invited
to come and give a helping hand to roll the old chariot along.
Corvallis Times 1/10/1903 p3
Officers who recently arrived to take charge of the Salvation Army work in this locality find a debt of something like $100 standing against the organization here. With commendable energy the new officers are setting about to cancel the debt, and it will be much to their credit if they succeed.
Corvallis
Times 1/7/1903 p2
Fire! Fire Fire!
The
Salvation Army will open fire on Wednesday eve. Jan 7th. The meeting will be
conducted by the officers who have just arrived from San Francisco, where one
week of special meetings were conducted by General Booth, the
leader and founder of The Salvation Army. The General spoke very
elevating of the Army work in America since his last visit four years ago, the
result of the campaign was nearly 300 souls converted and about 400 officers
baptized with the fire of the Holy Ghost. Very special meetings will be held in
Corvallis, soliciting the attendance of all. Officer in charge, Captain C.E.
Brooks, Lieutenant C.E. Mannes
Corvallis Times 1/10/1903 p3
For
sometime until recently the doors of the Salvation Army Hall were closed and
the boom of the army drum was unheard. It is different now. The organization
seems to have taken on a new life and there was quite and awakening and the red hot time Wednesday night. Captain C. E. Brooks and Lt.
C. E. Mannes arrived the first of the week freshly imbued with the enthusiasm
of General Booth whose meetings they had been attending in San Francisco. The first meeting was attended by several enthusiastic members from Philomath. Continued services will be held in Corvallis with occasional
meetings in the country. The officers request it to be stated that the
character of the meetings will be of the old-time fire and that all are invited
to come and give a helping hand to roll the old chariot along.
Corvallis Times 1/10/1903 p3
Officers who recently arrived to take charge of the Salvation Army work in this locality find a debt of something like $100 standing against the organization here. With commendable energy the new officers are setting about to cancel the debt, and it will be much to their credit if they succeed.
Chapter of Holy Rollers where these articles are some of the sources:
Chapter 1:
Life Before Creffield (B.C.)
***
1901: Holy Rollers' Lives Before Creffield
January 18, 1903: Fred Mitchell Attempts Suicide
***
Newspaper Articles about Creffield & the Holy Rollers
1897-1903: B.C. (Before Creffield)
October to December 1903:Holy Rollers Burn Furniture & Pets
January to March, 1904: Holy Rollers Tarred and Feathered
April to June 1904: Holy Rollers are Committed to the Asylum
July 1904: Creffield is Found & Arrested
September 1904: Creffield's Trial
April 1906: Men are Gunning For Creffield
May 1906: Creffield is Murdered, Murderer is Considered a Hero
May 1906: Holy Rollers Found Starving Near Heceta Head
June 1906: George Mitchell's Trial Begins
July 1906: Hurt Testifies of Debauched Wife and Debased Sisters
July 1906: Esther Mitchell Kills Her Brother
August to October 1906: Seattle Prepares for another Big Trial
November 1906: Maud Hurt Creffield Commits Suicide
April 1909-August 1914: Esther Leaves the Asylum
1953 Stewart Holbrook's Murder Without Tears
1951Startling Detective Magazine, Nemesis of the Nudist High Priest
***
Chapters from
Holy Rollers: Murder & Madness in Oregon's Love Cult
Part 1: The Seduction
Chapter 1: Trust Me, Brothers And Sisters
(Life Before Creffield [B.C.])
Chapter 2: God, Save Us From Compromising Preachers
(Creffield's Preachings)
Chapter 3: The Flock
(Profiles of the Holy Rollers Were)
Chapter 4: The Holy Rollers
(Things Start to Get Wild on on Kiger Island)
Chapter 5: Housecleaning
(There's a Sacrificial Bonfire)
Chapter 6: Community Concerns
(Officers Visit)
Chapter 7: Esther, The Chosen One
(Creffield Plans to Marry 16-Year- Old)
Chapter 8: Tar and Feathers
(The Men of Corvallis Act)
Chapter 9: Sane People Don’t Go Bareheaded
(Holy Rollers are Committed to the Asylum)
Chapter 10: More Beast Than Man
( Creffield is Arrested)
Chapter 11: God Will Plead Creffield's Case
(Creffield in Court)
Chapter 12: Scandal
(Shocking Testimony at the Trial)
Chapter 13: Calm Before the Storm
(The Holy Rollers Resume their Lives)
Chapter 14: Giving Up The Ghost
(Men are Gunning for Creffield)
Part Two: The People V. Creffield
Chapter 16: The Widow Creffield
Chapter 19: An Inherited Streak of Insanity
Part Three: The Madness
Chapter 23: Seeking Reconciliation
Chapter 24: Another Holy Roller Page One Murder
Chapter 25: What Can Papa Do For You?
Chapter 26: Human Life is Too Cheap In This Community
Chapter 30: The Final Chapter
(What Happened to Everyone Afterwards)
The Epilogue
(Heaven's Gate)