Person:Irijah Byars (1)

IRIJAH BYARS 1832-1899 Irijah is a biblical name: IRIJAH "Jehovah sees me" - son of Shelemiah, a captain in the ward, who met Jeremiah in the gate of Jerusalem called the "gate of Benjamin" accused him of being about to desert to the Chaldeans; and led him back to the princes. (Jeremiah 37:13,14) (B.C. 589.)

1832 Jan 27: born in Jackson County, IL to Ira & Mariah Byars.

1840 US Census: Jackson Co., Illinois; Roll 61, page 263: Ira Byres (sic) 1210001-100001

 Could account for: Males: 1 under age 5 Isaac Dan; 2 ages 5-9 Zeri & Irijah; 1 10-14 Zithri; and Ira age 40-49. Females: 1 under age 5 Nancy; and Mariah age 30-30.

1850 US Census: South Dist., Jackson Co., Illinois, M432-110, p 247

 212/215 Ira Byers, age 54 [c1795-1796], farmer, $300, b NC

Mariah Byers, age 47 [c1802-1803], b Ky Zithri Byers, age 22 [c1827-1828], b IL Zeri Byers, age 20 [c1829-1830], b IL Irijah Byers, age 18 [c1831-1832], b IL Dan Byers, age 15 [c1834-1835], b IL

1851: moved to Iowa with his parents. (another account says Madison Co., IL) [I doubt his parents moved]

1852: Pioneer to Oregon, Irijah was a driver for Dr. Jefferson Huff. They traveled the Oregon Trail in a large train of 52 wagons, arriving with only 3. It was a bad year for cholera and many people died including most of the Huff children. They arrived in Oregon Nov. 20, 1852 and pent the first winter near Portland on the site of the (future) Lewis & Clark Exposition.

1853 Aug 9: marriage to Sarah Elizabeth Huff, all of Lancaster Prec., Washington Territory, by Solomon Strong J.P.

1853 27 Aug: Settled on the Lewis River in Clark County, Washington Territory. Donation Land Claim sections 1 & 2 of T5 N., R1E affirmed by William Irwin, Evan H. Harner, & William Miller. DLC Certificate No. 52, Notification No. 227, WT.

1857 Oct 15: Date of last residence on DLC given by Irijah Byars in sworn statements at Milton, Columbia Co., WT. No mention of Indian troubles as described in DLC of Jefferson Huff.

CHECK DLC of James John; when was land sold (or traded) to Irijah Byars; check Multnomah Co. Deeds

1860 US Census: Portland, Multnomah, Oregon; M653-1056; page 500

 466/412  J. Byers, age 28, Farmer, $500/100, b Illinois

Elizabeth Byers, age 23, b Indiana Maria Byers, age 3, b Oregon Mary Byers, age 2, b Oregon

1870 US Census: Portland PO, St Johns Precinct, Multnomah, Oregon; M593-1287; Page: 167

 224/224 I. Buyers, age 38, farmer, $2000/430, b Illinois

Elizabeth Buyers, age 36, keeping house, b Indiana Maria Buyers, age 14, b Oregon Mary L. Buyers, age 11, b Oregon Martha Buyers, age 6, b Oregon Sophia Buyers, age 2, b Oregon

1880 US Census: Saint Johns, Multnomah, Oregon; T9-1082; ED 91; Page: 201A

 61/64 Irijah Byars, father, age 48, Farmer, b Illinois; father b S. Carolina, mother b Tennessee 

Elizabeth Byars, mother, age 44, keeps house, b Indiana; father b Tennessee, mother b Kentucky Mary Byars, daughter, single, age 22, keeps at Home, b Oregon Martha Byars, daughter, single, age 16, keeps at Home, b Oregon Cylpha Byars, daughter, age 12, at school, b Oregon Elizabeth Byars, daughter, age 10, at school, b Oregon Vesta Byars, daughter, age 5, at home, b Oregon

1884 Feb 18: Moved to East Portland, 7th & East Burnside 1885: Portland City Directory; page 440 East Portland; Byars, Irijah, farmer, res NW cor F and 7th.

1886 Jul 23: The Morning Oregonian (Portland, OR): An Aerolite. Irijah Byars tells of a peculiar incident which occurred in St. Johns on Wednesday. He and several friends were conversing under some cherry trees, when a cry was heard from a boy who was picking fruit from one of the trees. The gentlemen looked up and saw what appeared to be a ball of fire just overhead. The object came down almost immediately at the foot of the tree in which the boy was located and in its course struck the youngster and burned part of his clothes completely off. It fell with a sizzling sound and was imbedded some feet in the earth, burning the grass in a circle several inches around and leaving a greasy substance scattered about. The object was afterwards dug up and found to be spheroidal and metallic. The boy was not seriously injured. [Newspapers at ancestry.com]

1889 Nov 7: The Morning Oregonian, page 8, column 3: Scared a Bear to Death - Last evening Mr. M.M. Hunter, bookkeeper for Kindorff Bros., came to the East Side office and stated that he had an item. A reporter went with him and was show a fine fat black bear suspended in front of the meat shop. "This bear," remarked Mr. Hunter, "was killed by Mr. Byars, just back of St. Johns." Mr. Byars was interviewed, and he admitted that he killed the bear, but he remarked "I scared that bear to death." "You scared him to death, did you? How did it happen the bear didn't scare you to death?" "Well," remarked Byars, striking his cane down on the floor with emphasis, "the bear died first."

1890 Portland City Directory: Irijah Byars, 379 F., Prtlnd. Lizzie L. Byars, dressmaker, business of Mrs. N.L. Guston, boards 379 F., Prtlnd. 1891 Portland City Directory: Irijah Byars, farmer, 379 F., East Portland. Izora E. & Lizzie L. boarding. 1895 Portland City Directory; page 207; Byars, Elizabeth L. b 435 E. Burnside; Byars, Irijah, farmer, res 435 E. Burnside; Byars, Izora V., bds, 435 E. Burnside.

1892/1895: Will of Frederic H. Ramsey of Multnomah County, Oregon; age 67yrs; date 1 Feb 1892; filed 7 Jan 1895; "Sixth. I give and bequeath unto Irijah Byars two thousand dollars in cash." Source: Multnomah County Wills; donated by Christie Shellito with work from other researchers; http://genealogytrails.com/ore/multnomah/wills/wills.html

1895 Oregon State Census: Multnomah Co., Pct 40, p 7; Byers, Elizebeth, Irigah, Isora [p 6 G. Byars]

1898 Jun 15: Twenty-sixth Annual Reunion; starts on page 11, Portland Oregon June 15, 1898; page 22, Pioneers in Attendance, those who registered with the secretary were as follows; page 29: 1852...Mrs. Elizabeth Byars, Portland; Irijah Byars, Portland. [Transactions of the [1st]-56th Annual Reunion...By Oregon Pioneer Association, Indian War Veterans of the North Pacific Coast. WorldVitalRecords to GoogleBooks; image of page 29 June 2007]

1899 Feb 25: WILL of Irijah Byars of Portland - age of 67 years, ... I give & bequeath unto my children: Maria Louisa Jones, Mary Lutilda Root, Martha Ellen Allen, Zylpha Caroline Sutton, Elizabeth Luella Byars and Izora Vesta Elva Byars. Twenty Five Dollars each. I give and bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth Byars all the rest and residue of my property of which I may be seized both real, personal, and mixed. I appoint my beloved wife Elizabeth Byars and my beloved daughter Elizabeth Luella Byars to be executors of this will...I hereby ask and declare that no bonds be executed of my above named executors. 25 Feb 1899, signed Irijah Byars, wit A.W. Lambert and John Watrin both of Portland. Will proved 18 Jul 1899.

1899 Jul 3: RETURN OF A DEATH: Irijah Byars; Duration of Illness, 2 yrs; Date of Death, 3 Jul 1899; Cause of Death, Tricuspid regurgitation of the Heart; signed, C.H Rafferty, M.D., 368 East Oak; date of certificate 5 Jul 1899. UNDERTAKER'S CERTIFICATE IN RELATION TO DECEASED. White; Male; age 67; married; Occupation, Capitalist; place of birth, Illinois; Place of death, City; Residence, 435 East Burnside St.; Time of Residence in the City, abt 16 yrs; Place of previous Residence, St. Johns, Oregon. Names of parents blank. Nativity of parents, American. Place of Intended Interment, Gatten's (near St. Johns.) Cemetery; signed F.S. Dunning, undertaker, date of certificate 4 Jul 1899, 414 East Alder St. [photocopy from Oregon Historical Society]

1899 Jul 4 OBIT: Oregonian, 4 July 1899, XVI; DEATH OF IRIJAH BYARS, Well-known Resident of the East side Passes Away at his Home. Irijah Byars, a pioneer of 1852, and a well-known resident of the East Side, died at his home on the northwest corner of East Burnside and East Seventh Streets last evening at 6:15. His health had been failing for the past two years and for seven months he had not been away from his home. For the past few days he sank rapidly, and yesterday morning recognized the members of his family for the last time, when he relapsed into a stupor, in which he continued till the end. Mr. Byars was born in Jackson county, Illinois in 1832, and with his parents moved to Iowa in 1851. In 1852 he started across the plains with a large party. At first he settled in Clark county, Washington, where he was married. His wife came with the same train. They took up a donation land claim on Lewis River, where they lived for three years, when they were driven away by the Indians, like many other fellows of that neighborhood. Coming across the river to Oregon, the family now settled at St. Johns, where they lived till 16 years ago, when they moved to the East Side. At St. Johns they lived 33 years, and there their children were born. Mr. Byars was a very genial and companionable man, and always maintained his integrity. His wife and the following children survive him: Mrs. Maria L. Jones, Portland; Mrs Mary Root, Oregon City; Mrs. Martha E. Allen and Mrs. Zylphia Sutton, San Francisco; Misses Lizzie L. and Izora Byars, at home. The funeral has not yet been arranged. (Newspaper article pasted into the Family Bible, copy sent by Vernice Junkins) with photo

The following is a collection of NEWSPAPER clippings from Elizabeth Root Junkin's brown Scrapbook, page 83, sent by Diann Junkins:

  Mrs. Martha E. Allen and Mrs. Zylphia Sutton, of San Francisco, daughters of the late Irijah Byars, arrived yesterday to attend the funeral of their father, which will take place Sunday morning at 10 o'clock.
  The funeral of the late Irijah Byars, pioneer of 1852, will take place today from the undertaking parlors on East Sixth and East Alder streets. All the children of the deceased have arrived and will be present at the funeral services.
  BYARS - In this city, July 3, 1899 at his late residence, 435 East Burnside st., Irijah Byars aged 67 years. Funeral will take place Sunday, July 9, 1899 at 10 A.M., from F.S. Dunning's undertaking parlors, 414 East Alder st. Friends invited. Interment at the grave private.
  FUNERAL OF IRIJAH BYARS. The funeral of the late Irijah Byars, pioneer of 1852, took place yesterday forenoon from the undertaking chapel, on East Sixth and East Alder Streets. Rev John Miller a pioneer minister, conducted the services. The pall-bearers were William Ramsey, F.R. Neale, A.W Lambert, Captain E. Martin, Jacob Deckenbeck and Fred Lewis. There was a large attendance of the friends of the family, and also many old-timers were present. At the close of the services the body was conveyed to the St. Johns cemetery for burial.
  MRS. BYARS Receives Whole Property. The will of the late Irijah Byars has been opened and will be filed for probate today. It is very short and practically leaves all the property to his wife, Elizabeth Byars. The other heirs are: Mrs. Martha E. Allen and Mrs. Zylphia Sutton, of San Francisco; Mrs. Maria L. Jones, Elizabeth and Izora Byars, of Portland, and Mrs. Mary L. Root, of Oregon City. To each of these he leaves the sum of $25. The present value of the estate is about $10,000, although a few years ago it was more than double this amount. There is one 40 acre tract at St. Johns which was worth at one time $20,000 and was sold for that, but the buyer failed to keep his contract, and it came back to Mr. Byars. He had some other property, the value of which is as yet unknown. The will names his wife and daughter E.L. Byars, as executresses without bond.

1899 Jul 14: Petition to probate July 14, 1899. Fee Book 9, p 456, Probate No. 3804. Executors: Elizabeth Byars and Elizabeth Luella Byars, without bond, both of Portland. Witnesses to will: A.W. Lambert and John Watrin both of Portland. He left property worth $10,093.77 to his wife. He left $25 to each of his 6 surviving daughters: Maria Louisa Jones, age 43 of Portland; Mary Lutilda Root age 41 of Oregon City; Martha Ellen Allen age 35 of San Francisco; Zylpha Caroline Sutton age 31 of San Francisco; Elizabeth Luella Byars age 28 of Portland; and Izora Vesta Elva Byars age 24 of Portland. Final account signed 1 May 1900 by Elizabeth Byars and Elizabeth Luella Byars, wit Vicca Combs.

Multnomah Park CEMETERY, Portland, Oregon: FILE IRIJAH BYARS: Contains two biographical sketches on his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Byars and the cemetery information regarding his plot. His grave appears to have been moved to this cemetery from Gatten Cemetery in St. Johns. There is an upright monument. The Block B, Grave 3, Lot 2-8 plan shows him buried next to his wife. A field check was done for a project at some time. There is a remark: buried - Gatten - near - St - Johns -. No date is given, and a note in the margin says there is No Record. Others on this plan lying in Lot 2-8, Block B are: Elizabeth Luella Ashby; Henry G. Byars; Clark J. Byars; Dinealy P. Byars; Reuben M. Byars; Irijah Byars; Elizabeth Byars; and C. J. T. There is no information about who C.J.T. may have been. A note says that the Monument was Collared 8-29-55. There is indication on this page that the children at one time had Flat Markers, FM, and that raised markers, RM, were placed for Irijah, Elizabeth Byars, and C. J. T. The monument has names on all four sides. (Side one) Irijah BYARS Jan. 27, 1832 - July 3, 1899; Elizabeth BYARS Oct. 25, 1834 - Sept. 14, 1916. (Side two) Henry G. July 8, 1854 - June 11, 1857; Clark J. June 15, 1860 - Jan 30, 1862; Dinealy P Jan. 29, 1862 - Dec. 23, 1863; Reuben M. July 30, 1866 - Sept. 1, 1866; Children of Irijah and Elizabeth BYARS. (Side three) Izora V.E. BYARS BASEY Mar. 31, 1875 - Aug. 15, 1909; W.S. BASEY 1874-1935. (Side four) Hatty ASHBY Sept. 18, 1833 - Apr. 5, 1917; Wm. Ashby 1868-1934. Near the flat 2-8 lot marker, is the flat marker of E. ASHBY 1963 2-8 6 B. I poked around with my little pocket knife, but was unable to find any other flat stones, and no raised markers besides the monument. [Gatton Cemetery was located at the end of Swift Blvd - E. side of N. Simmons at the intersection of N. Burgard, established in 1873, size .27 acres, interments 25-100, no condition given, T2N-R1W-S36, Oregon Department of Transportation Cemetery Survey.]

Multnomah Park Cemetery; File of Irijah Byars. "MRS. ELIZABETH BYARS

  Mr. Byars was born in Jackson County, Illinois on the 27th of January, 1832. His father was a farmer and the boy was reared in the country until he was 21 years of age, during which time he attended the district schools. He was fortunate in having such opportunities, for in that early day many boys were deprived of such advantages as their parents could not spare the children form the arduous work that was necessary to be done in those days. When yet in school, Mr. Byars assisted his father in the development of the farm and when 21 years of age he went to Madison County, Illinois, where he was living when hired by Mr. Huff to come west with the family.
  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Byars have been born the following named sons and daughters: Henry, the eldest, died at the age of three years; Clark Jefferson and Dinealy Penelope both died when two years of age; Izora Vesta became the wife of W. F. Basey, who was burned to death in 1909, leaving a son Andrew Byars Basey, age two years. Reuben Matthias was only a month old at the time of his death. Maria Louise is the wife of J. Brown of California. Maria Lutilda is the widow of Morris Root, who also lives in California. Martha A. is the widow of J.P. Allen. Zyltha Caroline is the widow of Joseph Sutton. Elizabeth Luella married W. E. Ashby.
  Mrs. Byars has for forty-nine years been a resident of Oregon. She says that when she and her husband removed to St. Johns, the location was practically a wilderness, covered with the native timber and brush and it seemed to her that it would never be of any use in the world. She has lived to see the land increase in value many fold and has been an interested witness of the development that has brought St. Johns, Portland and Oregon to the present condition of prosperity and progress. Mr. Byars passed away on the 3rd of July, 1900. FROM: Portland, It's History and Builders, Vol. 2, by Joseph Gaston, page 602. BURIED: Multnomah Park Cemetery, Grave 2, Lot 2-8, Block B, Year-1916"

1. ↑ Byars, Lot 2-8, Block B. Multnomah Park Cemetery, Portland, Oregon. (SE 82nd Ave. & Holgate Blvd.).
2. ↑ Family Bible
   Irijah Byars and Elizabeth Huff; in possession of Maurice D. & Vernice Junkin of Sweet Home, Oregon; jlsm has photocopies.