James William Scoggin

James William Scoggin’s cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at the Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related. More information about unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/osh/Pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a short documentary film by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.

James was born in Oregon in August 1857. This was before Oregon achieved statehood in 1859. James’ parents and grandparents were among the earliest white settlers in the territory.

His father, William “Gustavus” Scoggin, was born in Tennessee or Missouri in 1832. With his mother and step-father, Gustavus emigrated by ox team across the plains to Oregon in 1845 when he was about 13. They settled in the Tualatin Valley, Washington County, north of Hillsboro, Oregon.

James’ mother, Amanda "Mandy" Elizabeth Grubbe, was born in Missouri in 1834. In 1850 Amanda and her family emigrated to Oregon when she was about 16. Mandy’s family first settled in Washington County, Oregon, and in 1852 they moved south to Winchester, Douglas County, Oregon.

James’ parents were married on 6/15/1853 in Douglas County. Their children (all born in Oregon) included: Mary Irmelia (born in 1854), Carlos Thompson (about 1856), James (in 1857), Woodson Vail (in 1859), Thomas Greenleaf (about 1862), John Franklin (about 1865), Elizabeth Jane “Lizzie” (about 1867), and Avery Gustavus (about 1869), Alonzo Jerome (in 1871), and Eva Kinchloe (about 1874). Brother Woodson died on 4/22/1864.

At the time of the 1860 census James was 2 years old living with his parents and siblings in Hillsboro, Oregon where his father was a farmer. His father’s property was significantly more valuable ($5000) than other farms in the area. During the 1870 census, James was 12, attending school, and living with his parents and siblings in Forest Grove, Washington County, Oregon. His parents continue farming and raising race horses. Their land was, by far, the most valuable ($11,500) in the area.

In the census of 1880 James’ parents and siblings were still farming in Washington. James was not found with them in that census. About that time James was living in Washington County, and, like his father, was raising race horses.

James’ sister Mary (Scoggins) Anderson died on 9/26/1889 or 1890. His mother died on 5/14/1891 and his father died in Washington County on 7/20/1891. James’ mother was buried in Union County in eastern Oregon, a significant distance from Washington. At that time it is believed James was living in Clackamas County, Oregon. At some point he married his first wife. It is not known who she was, when they married, what became of her or whether she and James had children.

About 1899 James married Mary A. “Mollie” (Boren) Blachley. It was the second marriage for each of them. She was born in Oregon about 1855. With her first husband Rhyneer “Ryan” Monroe Blachley, she had one child, Eddie H. Blachley, who was born in Oregon in 1871. Mary and Ryan divorced. In 1896 she took over the management of the Cottage Grove Hotel in Lane County Oregon.

In the 1900 census James, Mary and her son Eddie were living in Grants Pass. James was working as a day laborer. His step-son, Eddie, was a cook who was single and 28. In 1901 James was operating the Bon Ton Restaurant in Grants Pass. Step-son Eddie died of pneumonia on 4/30/1907. In the 1910 census, James and Mary were living on J Street in Grants Pass, Oregon. He was a house carpenter, but was not employed at that time (May 1910). In 1914 James’ brother Avery who owned a stage line, was shot to death by an employee in central Oregon.

James has not been found in the census of 1920. In 1922 he and Mary were living at 703 K Street in Grants Pass. On 9/26/1922 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. After being a patient at the institution for a little less than 2 months he died there of heart disease on 11/18/1922. He was 65 years old. In 1930 James’ widow was listed in the census at their K Street home in Grants Pass. It is believed Mary died on 1/4/1937 and was buried in Grants Pass.

Death Certificate

All information found on Find-a-Grave