Meadors Vanderpool

GEDCOM Note

[BBrock.FTW]

Medders Vanderpool was born January 24, 1798 in Ashe County, North Carolina. In various histories and records, his name has been spelled as Medders, Meadors and Meddors. The correct spelling is probably Meadors, the maiden surname of his mother Ellender Meadors Vanderpool, but records in Oregon have the spelling Medders. His obituary simply uses the initial, "M." so it sheds no light on this subject, but records of Rock Hill Cemetery where he is buried have the spelling, Medders.

Medders, with his parents and siblings, were the first settlers in Ray County, Missouri, arriving about 1815. Meadors was the first school teacher in what was then, Ray County in or about what is now Richmond, Missouri. In Ray County History, A Thumbnail Sketch, compiled by the Ray County Genealogical Association in 1989, there is this report: "The first school house was built by the settlers on Ogg's branch, in section 4, township 51, range 28. The thing built was but a rude, unsightly hut. The logs were unkhewn, the roof was of rough boards, weighted to the rafters with heavy poles. The chimney was made of sticks, and the floor was the naked ground. Seats were puncheons, set on pegs, inserted into holes near ither end. The writing desk was of the same material, but larger and placed on longer pegs. A hobby-horse stood in the corner, for the accomodation of pupils to be corrected. in this house, in the spring and summer of 1819, was the first school taught in Ray County by Medders Vanderpool. It was a subscription school, and the master was paid in calves, buck-skins, and wild honey."

Medders Vanderpool was also the first serveyor of Ray County, Missouri. His name can be found in the Index To The First Surveyor's Book of Ray County, MO., 1830 - 1847, Medders Vanderpool, Surveyor.

Medders was first married to Mary "Polly" Linville, daughter of another, early Ray County settler, Abraham Linville. He was about thirty-two years of age at the time of this marriage. Polly died in childbirth just eight years, later in 1838. He next married Margaret E. Linville in 1842. She was the daughter of Richard Linville of Platt County, Missouri.

In 1846, Medders was the Captain of a company of wagon trains that was going from Independence, Missouri to California. It was a large train, made up of several companies and over 200 wagons. This train was called the Vanderpool Train and it followed the Soutern Route called the Applegate Trail. Medders and Margaret along with brother John and some of the other early Ray County settlers such as Proffitts and Linvilles made the trip. Brother Kinman, joined them in Oregon some time before 1852. The trip was plagued by wagons breaking down, lack of food, cattle and horses being stolen by Indians and goods having to be discarded to lighten the wagon loads. The Vanderpool's and Linville's were the first to turn off the regular route, on to the new "Applegate Trail" to Oregon. This trail went over the Cascade Moutains. There were many delays with roads having to be cleared in many places. They finally arrived in Oregon and were among the earliest pioneer settlers in that area. This info. may be found in the Overland 1846 by Dale Howell Morgan.

They settled on the Luckiamate in Polk County, Oregon where Medders engaged in farming and was also a surveyor, as he had been in Ray County, Missouri. He was the government surveyor who laid out many of the Donation Land Claims in that section.

Oregon Land Claim Applications records no. 1205, list Medders, Polk County; born 1799 in Ash County North Carolina; settled on Claim February 26, 1847; and had a temporary absence from May 14 to Oct. 17, 1849 while his family remained on the claim. Persons signing an affirmation to the information on the claim application, were Wm. B. Prather, Harrison Linville, and John B. Smith.

Medders temporarily left Oregon during that period in 1849 to go to California in persuit of gold. It was reported that the trip had proved very profitable.

Medders died on August 06, 1896 in Sodaville, Oregon and is buried in Dosgers Cemetery in Sodaville. His obiturary in the Albany Democrat reads: "M Vanderpool, the oldest resident in Linn county, died in Sodaille yesterday at his hundreth year, after a useful life, the last few years of which, though were spent very quietly. He came to Oregon in 1846. He leaves a large number of descendants, as well as many friends among the old residents, to mourn his death." The obituary would make his year of birth or death as recorded here, incorrect, if he were one hundred years of age when he died.

At the time of his death, he was the oldest living pioneer in Oregon.

This from Polk Co., Oregon site: "From the Spanish meaning good view, Buena Vista developed around 1847. The Buena Vista Ferry began service four years later. In 1871 a congregation reported from there having 23 members. They may have met in a school house because there is no record of a church building.

Pioneer Christians with property adjacent to Buena Vista included John Bird Bounds (1846), Alexander Vance McCarty and Jane Bounds McCarty (1847), Edward W. and Amanda Bounds McCarty (1847), Hezekiah and Melissa Davidson, and Medders and Margaret Linville Vanderpool (1846). Medders and Margaret are buried at the Rock Hill Cemetery in Linn County."

From the Polk County, Oregon site: Pioneer Preacher Profile-John Burris Smith Monmouth, Polk County, Oregon "When the Smiths applied for their land, among the signers were Henry Hawkins, Gabriel Hardison and James S. Holman. None of the signers indicated they had known the Smiths since they were married. John B. Smith signed on the applications of Medders Vanderpool, John Bird Bounds, Fielden Thorp and Harrison Linville."
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Medders Vanderpool BIRTH 24 Jan 1798 Ashe County, North Carolina, USA DEATH 6 Aug 1896 (aged 98) Sodaville, Linn County, Oregon, USA BURIAL Rock Hill Cemetery Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon, USA Show Map MEMORIAL ID 26431715 · View Source

MEMORIAL PHOTOS 2 FLOWERS 4 VANDERPOOL, Medders, Polk Co., born 1799, Ash Co., NC.; Settled Claim 26 February 1847; married Margaret E. --- February 1842 Polk, Missouri; temporarily absent from claim 13 May to 17 Oct. 1849, family remained on claim. Affiant: William B. Prather, Harrison Linville, John B. Smith.

Supp. Vol. V, T9S R4W secs. 16, 17, 20, 21 640 acres; 1st marriage unknown; 2nd marriage to Margaret E. Linville. FR-M. R. Peer Source: Genealogical material in Oregon Donation Land Claims Abstracted from Applications by Genealogical Forum of Portland, Oregon. Vol. I, Not. No. 1205 and Supp. Vol. V

Family Members Spouse Photo Margaret Linville Vanderpool 1818–1888

Children Photo Elizabeth Vanderpool Robson 1852–1930

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26431715/medders-vanderpool