1. Francis Barnett Prine was an American pioneer who was one of the first settlers to homestead in the Ochoco country of central Oregon.
26 Facts About Barney Prine
1. 2.
When he was young, Prine traveled with his family from Missouri to Oregon's Willamette Valley over the Oregon Trail.
3.
Barney Prine served in the 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War.
4.
Barney Prine was born on 1 January 1841 in Jackson County, Missouri, 12 miles east of Kansas City.
5.
Barney Prine's parents were Francis "Frank" Prine and Alice Elizabeth "Elsie" Prine.
6.
Barney Prine was only 12 years old, but he drove one of the family's wagons and took his turn standing guard at night while crossing the plains and mountains along the Oregon Trail.
7.
The Barney Prine family settled in Linn County in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
8.
In 1862, Barney Prine took up a gold mining claim near Florence on the Oregon Coast.
9.
Barney Prine's claim was very productive, but Prine spent everything he made.
10.
Barney Prine admitted to spending as much a $1,000 in a single day, gambling and buying drinks for his friends.
11.
Barney Prine entered the United States Army in November 1864 and served until his company was disbanded in July 1866.
12.
Barney Prine's company was commanded by Captain Ebner W Waters.
13.
Barney Prine remained in Linn County until the area became too crowded for his liking.
14.
Barney Prine made a squatters claim on property along the Crooked River, near Mill Creek.
15.
Barney Prine's wife was one of the first women to settle in the area.
16.
When he arrived in central Oregon, Barney Prine built a crude cabin using juniper and willow logs, topped with a thatched roof of willow stems and ryegrass turf.
17.
Barney Prine opened a primitive blacksmith shop and a small store.
18.
Barney Prine hauled goods for his store from The Dalles on the Columbia River while he salvaged iron from abandoned wagons for his blacksmith shop.
19.
Barney Prine later added a saloon and a stable to his property.
20.
Barney Prine regularly sponsored horse races to boost liquor sales at his saloon.
21.
Barney Prine noted that this problem was solved by lynching thieves and murderers.
22.
Later that year, Barney Prine sold his Crooked River property and businesses to Monroe Hodges for $25 and a packhorse.
23.
Barney Prine became Weston's city marshal and later opened a blacksmith shop there.
24.
Barney Prine was particularly interested in finding the Lost Blue Bucket Mine, which he believed was located somewhere between the Owyhee River and the headwaters of the Crooked River.
25.
Barney Prine later explored the mining country of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, and southern parts of British Columbia.
26.
Barney Prine ran that business successfully for the next 20 years.