1906, Salem, OR: Pioneer John Hunt sings in Jargon
Here’s another oldtimers’ reunion story where we can wonder if the guy was singing a song learned from Native people, or one of the Chinuk Wawa Christian hymns that the pioneers composed so many of.
Here’s the narration:
MARION COUNTY PIONEERS
Hold Their Annual Reunion at the John Hunt Homestead
The annual reunion of the Marion county pioneers, or that part of them belonging to what may be termed the Waldo Hills, was held at the beautiful grove at the home of John Hunt, himself a pioneer of 1847. The grounds had been cleared up by Capt. M.W. Hunt and Jeptha Hunt, assisting their uncle, and commodious seats were arranged for about a thousand people, and more than half that number were in attendance from the hill country all the way from Silverton to Stayton north and south, and from Salem to Silver Creek Falls east and west. The rainy weather never cleared until Saturday morning or there would have been twice as many. But the crowd was a very fine one, as one sees only when the pioneers and their descendants assemble to do honor to the days that are past and gone. Hon. John Hunt presided and added his part to the speaking program, in addition to singing a pioneer song and a verse of an Indian song in the Chinook jargon.
In the forenoon there were able addresses by Rev. P.S. Knight and Hon. John Minto of Salem, and in the afternoon Hon. Geo. S. Downing, Capt. M.W. Hunt and Mrs. E.T. Judd were on the program. A splendid dinner was served and the pioneers’ table was graced by many of the men and women who braved the dangers of the trip across the plains in the ’40s and the ’50s. Benton Patten was chief boiler of coffee and his brew was just about right. The Victor Point band furnished music and some of the young people sang songs and the day was passed in a most charming manner. Mrs. John Hunt and Miss Hunt were hostesses in general and made it very pleasant for the ladies, who went out from different parts of the county. The meeting was such a great success that it was the unanimous sentiment to hold these reunions each year without fail.
— from the Salem (OR) Daily Capital Journal of July 2, 1906, page 3, columns 2-3
