IN MEMORIAM: Frieda Hewitt

July 4th, 2021

FRIEDA DeLYNN HEWITT

Frieda D. Hewitt, age 82, of Eugene, Oregon passed away on April 26, 2015. She was born in Burley, Idaho to Dick and Grace (Bledsoe) Ball on November 20, 1932.

She graduated high school and worked for PICO as a Shipping Clerk for many years.

Frieda married Fred A. Hewitt on February 25, 1977 in Reno, Nevada.

She was a Daisy Duck and Co Chair for the U of O Duck baseball team and looked forward to seeing “Her Boys? off to away games with a hug and sack of treats.

Frieda is survived by her husband, Fred, two sons, Douglas E. McCormick and Dennis M. McCormick of Junction City, OR., many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great- grandchild, brother, Jay Ball of Kuna, Idaho and a sister, Doris (Ball) Tyree of Buhl, Idaho. She was preceded in death by two sons, Gerald D. McCormick and Richard M. McCormick and a daughter, Jackie D. (McCormick) Dubray.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the family home on May 13, 2015 at 4:00.

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FAMILY DONATION LAND CLAIMS: John and Charlotte Matheny Kirkwood DLC

July 4th, 2021

Charlotte Matheny (1838-1926) and John Kirkwood were married when she was 14.

Charlotte wrote her memoirs of the 1843 Migration, Into the Eye of the Setting Sun, when she was in her 80s.

LOCATION: From Hopewell, turn right toward Wheatland. Immediately after returning to the Lafayette Highway is the church (now Seventh Day Adventist) built by William S. Cooper’s son Enoch, who was a carpenter. Charlotte Kirkwood attended this church in her later years.
To the left immediately after the church, are two oak trees that are set back from the road. Here was where Charlotte and John Kirkwood’s home sat.
Behind them lived Daniel B. Matheny.

To the right at the next stop sign is Maud Williamson State Park where the reunion is held.  This was Adam Matheny’s land. 

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FAMILY HISTORIC SITES: Hopewell Cemetery

July 4th, 2021

When the first death occurred in the area, because their Donation Land Claim lay on high ground, Rachel and Henry Matheny donated a portion of their land as the local cemetery,…”   There is a monument next to the church in the cemetery.   At the 1933 Reunion meeting, it was voted to thank the town of Hopewell for erecting the new monument to Rachel Matheny as the donor of the property for Hopewell Cemetery.

In Into the Eye of the Setting Sun, Charlotte Matheny Kirkwood, tells the story of the first burial  there– Mr. Kay story. Reuben was the one who married into our family.

Also in Into the Eye of the Setting Sun, there is the story of our own family’s first burial there. It was Sarah Jane, who had died in the California gold fields.  There is a question of whether her body had really been brought back and buried here.  She was married to Aaron Layson.

The white stone marker under the cedar tree marks the grave of Margarette, wife of John Wittschen.  She was Henry Hewitt’s sister, who came to Oregon much later than Henry.  Jasper married her stepdaughter, Mary Ring.  They had all lived in the same county in Missouri.

Charlotte Matheny Kirkwood’s grave is the large long, horizontal headstone near the back.

John Alvin Ray (Johnny Ray) Jan.10, 1927 – February 24, 1990, was not of our family, but was first cousins to some of our family members. He was a father of Rock and Roll.

For more FAMILY HISTORIC SITES, click on the link below.

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