Around the Horn
by Marcia Allen
Cottage Grove, OR
Upon my engagement in 1940, I was delighted to find that my future husband also claimed elite forebears in the settlement of the early Oregon country. This story is about a young man who “sailed around the Horn”. Imagine my delight in later years to find an article printed in the ‘Illustrated Historical Atlas of Marion and Linn counties of Oregon by Edgar Williams & Co. 1878′. I’d like to share it with you:
Edwin Napper Tandy was born in Christian County, Kentucky and remained there until he reached manhood. He received a good education in the schools of the state, and at age 19 commenced reading law under the prominent attorneys Grey & Knight. Mr. Tandy made such rapid progress that at age twenty-one, he was admitted to the Kentucky Bar. He immediately began a law practice in the town of Hopkinsville in the year of 1851. According to family lore I picked up at the TANDY family reunions held every year here in Oregon, he decided to “come west” and sailed around the Horn, through storms and high seas, bringing his rocking chair and his law books. It was 1854. Emigrating to California, he went into the mines, and as the story goes, “met with tolerable success”. By now, it was 1857.
He came to Oregon and purchased a farm in Lane County, near Junction City. He succeeded well, rapidly improving the land, building good buildings and fences. In 1862, he was appointed Judge of Lane county by Governor Whiteaker, to fill an unexpired term. In 1868, he was elected to the Oregon Legislature, serving his time with credit to his party and himself. In 1870, he moved to Harrisburg and opened a law office. In 1871, he was elected Mayor of the City of Harrisburg; in 1872, he was elected County Judge of Linn county, a position he held for four years. Through all his long official career, he performed his duty and won the respect and confidence of all. On January 3, 1858, he married Nancy Liggett, who came to Oregon in 1846.
The ‘Illustrated Atlas’ story continues: ” The judge is the father of four children” [one of whom was my husband's grandfather Charles Hershel Tandy]. “The judge is considered one of Linn County’s solid men; he has always taken an active interest in the welfare of the county, or in whatever could be improved and benefit the people. Now practicing law in Harrisburg, he owns a fine farm which he personally superintends. ”
I heard at the last Tandy Reunion we attended that portions of that farm were still in the Tandy family. Judge Tandy was a lifelong Methodist, and a staunch Democrat. He was well read and in his advanced age became frail, but retained a wonderful mentality. He was the oldest member of the Thurston A.F.& A.M. Lodge, and died at the age of 96 years.
