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Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Dexter Field ~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
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Dexter Field
LAST NAME: Field FIRST NAME: Dexter MIDDLE NAME:  NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
TITLE:  GENDER: M MILITARY: Civil War - Union Sharpshooter
BORN: 3 Nov 1841 DIED: 19 May 1914 BURIED: 21 May 1914
ETHNICITY:   OCCUPATION:  Agriculturalist, writer
BIRTH PLACE:  Bath, Summit Co., Ohio
DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
NOTES: 

CIVIL WAR - Sgt. Co. C, 1st Reg. US Sharp Shooters
1910 CENSUS - Dexter Field, age 68, married 44 years, born in Ohio, occupation gardner, is enemerated with wife, Eliza, age 66, 11 children born to her, 8 of whom are still living, born in Ohio, along with daughter Hetta (or Hettie), single, age 32, and mother-in-law, Charity Champion, widow, age 88, born in Ohio. 

BIOGRAPHICAL:
"He was registered in an Ohio college when war broke out.  It ended his formal schooling." He was in the Corps of Sharp Shooters in Michigan in August 1861 and was discharged August 20, 1864 near Petersburg, Virginia.  "As a schoolboy, I saw his Sharp's rifle, canteen, and knapsack made of calf skin with the hair intact, in the museum at Willamette University"  excerpted from The Creative Ones by Ferris Field Bagley.

BIOGRAPHICAL:
DEXTER FIELD  - For many years Dexter Field was classed with the progressive agriculturists of Marion County, laboring with hand and brain in the unending conflict with nature, and his was a strong serviceable life, crowned with well deserved success. He was born November 3, 1841, in Bath, Ohio, and was a son of Austin and Sarah A. (Compton) Field. His mother was born February 28, 1820, in Summit County, Ohio, and the father was born March 14, 1807, in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. 
Henry Field, the great-great-grandfather of Dexter Field was an Englishman. He was born about the year 1700 and achieved notable success in maritime affairs. He engaged in business in partnership with his brother, William Field, and at one time operated a fleet of ninety-nine ships. The firm was subsequently dissolved and in 1740 Henry Field settled in Connecticut, becoming well known as a financier. His son, John Field settled in Conway, Massachusetts in 1750 and married Mary Brown, whose father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, wearing the buff and blue uniform. 
John and Mary Field were the parents of Edward Field, also a native of Conway. He was born November 12, 1783, and his wife was Nancy Ingalls, a daughter of Jonathan and Charlotte (Wheeler) Ingalls, the former of whom was a native of Rehobath, Massachusetts, and it was there that she was born March 11, 1788. Edward and nancy Field were the parents of Austin Field, who was reared in the Bay state and migrated to Ohio in his youth, while in the '50's he went to Michigan.
Dexter Field attended the public schools of the Buckeye state and his higher education was received in Oberlin College of Ohio. After leaving that institution he enlisted in the Union Army, becoming a member of Co. C of the First Regiment of the United States Sharpshooters, and for three years served his country with gallantry and devotion. He was a carpenter and also followed the occupation of farming in Ohio. In 1871 he brought his family to Oregon, locating in Salem, and learnd of a desirable place located two miles east of the city. He walked out to the farm and in company with his wife inspected the five-acre tract, which they bought the next day. Mr. Field ordered a load of lumber and at once began the task of building a home on the property. During the first year he did outside work, thus obtaining the needed funds, and as his resources permitted he added to his holdings, eventually becoming the owner of thirty-eight acres of valuable land. He knew the best methods of tilling the soil and his systematic labors yielded substantial returns. He was an expert gardener and in the early days carried his produce to market in a wheelbarrow. His first home was replaced by an attractive residence containing fourteen rooms and suplied with modern conviences. He planted beautiful trees and was constantly improving his ranch, in which he took justifiable pride, remaining on the homestead until his demise, May 19, 1914. He was honest, industrious and unassuming, true to the ties of home and friendship, and his genuine worth won for him a secure place in the esteem of all with whom had was associated.
Mr. Field was married November 4, 1865, to Miss Eliza Elizabeth Cassety, who was born August 9, 1843, in Seneca County, Ohio. Her parents were Franklin and Charity (Gilbert) Cassity. The former being born July 2, 1821, in the state of New York, was a son of Edward and Susanna (McFarland) Cassety, also natives of the Empire State. His mother was born February 17, 1783, in Westchester County and her parents were John and Mary Lovina McFarland, the former a native of Ireland. Edward Cassety was born February 23, 1780, in New York City, and his father was also a Celt. The wife of Franklin Cassety was born July 30, 1821, in Portage County, Ohio, and was a daughter of Isaac and Betsy (Bacon) Gilbert, the former born August 3, 1796, and the latter, January 2, 1796. Mr. and Mrs. Field were the parents of eleven children. Ambrie, the eldest, who is head proofreader for the Curtis Publishing Company of Philadelphia, is a graduate of Boston University. He married Miss Belle Sharpe. Bertha lived only a short time and Cordie died on the journey to Oregon. Edith completed a course in Willamette University and resides on the old homestead. Her husband, Alvin W. Bagley, was a native of Oregon and a graduate of the College of Puget Sound. His father, William Bagley, was born March 19, 1831, in Washington County, New York, and was a son of Aaron and Lydia (Davenport) Bagley, natives of Orange County, Vermont. The last named was born January 12, 1773, and her husband was born December 29, 1791. He was a patriotic American and served in the War of 1812. In 1852 William Bagley journeyed to Oregon in company with his brother, settling on Coos Bay, and for many years acted as Indian agent in the Siletz Agency. He married Savannah Mulkey, who was born July 19, 1843, in Johnson County, Missouri. She was the daughter of Johnson and Amanda (Parker) Mulkey, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky. In 1853 they started fro the Pacific Northwest and Mrs. Mulkey died while crossing the plains. She was buried in Idaho and Mr. Mulkey resumed the journey to Oregon, settling in Rogue River, Jackson County. Alvin W. Bagley died January 13, 1916, leaving a family of three children: Farris, who completed a course in the University of Oregon and lives in Portland, this state; Grace C., who is an alumnae of Willamette University and the wife of Carl Person, of Idaho; and Ambrie W., who was graduated from the Oregon Agricultural College and is now a partner in the firm of Field & Bagley. Floyd Field, the fifth in order of birth, is a graduate of Willamette University and a teacher in the State School of Technology at Atlanta, Georgia. Grace died when a child. Hetta, who was graduated from Willamette University, has charge of the homestead and raised hothouse vegetables, having a third of an acre under glass. She is a scientific agriculturist and an exceptionally capable woman. Inez is the wife of A. C. Fleming and lives in Eastern Oregon. Julia was united in marriage to Lloyd Whipple and has passed away. Mary is Mrs. Eugene Whipple, of Vancouver, Washington. Ruth was graduated from Willamette University and is principal of a school for girls in Calcutta, India.
Source - History of Willamette Valley, Vol. II, pgs. 267-269

DEATH CERTIFICATE: 
OSBH DC (Marion County 1914) #1219 - Dexter Field, male, married, occupation: Market Gardner, b. 3 Nov 1841 in Bath, Summit Co., Ohio, d. 19 May 1914 1 mile East of Salem, Marion Co., Oregon at the age of 72 yrs 6 m's 16 d's, name of father: Austin Field (b. Mass.), maiden name of mother Sarah A. Compton (b. Ohio), interment 21 May, undertaker: Lehman & Clough, informant Hetta Field of Salem.
OBITUARY: 
DEXTER FIELD IN HOSPITAL
Salem Pioneer is Stricken With Apoplexy on Visit Here
Dexter Field of Salem, pioneer agriculturist and writer, was taken in St. Vincent's Hospital Wednesday suffering from a stroke of apoplexy. He was stricken in a downtown drugstore and on account of his age - 74 years - it is feared that the stroke may prove fatal.
Mr. Field came from Salem yesterday. The attack was entirely unexpected as Mr. Field seemed to be in excellent health.  Dexter Field is known as the "Luther Burbank" of Oregon. He is widely known as an expert agriculturist and a writer on gardening.  He had an experiment station near Salem, and his son is City Treasurer of the capital city.
(source - uncited clipping, possibly The Oregonian)

DEXTER FIELD IS DEAD AT HIS SALEM HOME
SALEM, Or., May 20 - After an illness of several months, Dexter Field, who was for a number of years garden editor on the Pacific Homestead, a publication of this city, and a pioneer in truck gardening in the Valley, died here yesterday. He was regarded as an authority on agricultural subjects, and frequently contributed articles on them to Portland papers. He was 73 years old, and served on the Union side in the Civil War.  Besides a wife, he is survived by the following children: Ambrie Field, New Hampshire; Floyd Field, Atlanta; Mrs. A. W. Bagley, Portland; Miss Hetta Field, Salem; Mrs. Inex Fleming, Salem; Mrs. Mary Whipple, Vancouver, Wash., and Miss Ruth Field, Salem. Funeral services were held this afternoon, when Dr. Avison, pastor of the First Methodist Church officiated.
Oregonian, The (Portland, Oregon) 30 Jan 1014, pg 4

DEXTER FIELD PASSES TO REST
Well Known Gardener and Church Man Dies After Long Illness
His Fall in Portland Has Bad Results
Funeral of Well Known Salem Man Will be Held at the Home This Afternoon
Dexter Field, aged 72 years, pioneer greenhouse man and well known agriculturalist, died at his home, several miles east of the city, yesterday. The funeral services will be held from the residence, which is prominently known as Chestnut farm, today at 4 o'clock p.m.  Rev. Richard N. Avison will officiate. The services both at the home and at the grave will be private.
Here Thirty-four Years  
Known and respected as an authority on modern methods in agriculture, the death of Mr. Field means a genuine loss to the county and state. Coming to Oregon about thirty-four years ago he settled on land near Salem which he has since converted into a splendid farm. He pioneered the greenhouse business in this section and was the first to advance truck gardening into successful greenhouse marketing. He was considered all over the state as one of the leading fruit raisers and general farmers in this section, and his methods were generally recognized through his work as editor of the garden department of the Pacific Homestead from 1911 to 1913.
Death as Result of a Fall 
As the direct result of a fall which he received in Portland last January, Mr. Field's death was not unexpected by close friends and relatives. While visiting his daughter in that city Mr. Field fell just as he was boarding a street car, and was obliged to remain in the hospital for some time. Later he was brought to Salem, but his age and weakened condition were against him and his system failed to withstand the shock. Despite the efforts of physicians the case developed an attack of apoplexy and his death came after much suffering.
Was Well Thought Of  
Mr. Field was deeply respected as an active member of the First M. E. church of this city. It is said of him that under the worst weather conditions Mr. Field was a constant attendant at the services of the church. He was an instructor of a Bible class for many years and was the means of bringing many converts to the side of the prohibitionists.
Besides a widow Mr. Field leaves two sons, Ambrie, of New Hampshire, and Floyd, of Atlanta, Georgia, both of whom are college professors, and five daughters, namely: Mrs. A. W. Bagley of Portland; Miss Hetta Field, Mrs. Inez Fleming and Miss Ruth Field of Salem, and Mrs. Mary Whipple of Vancouver, Washington.  Twelve grandchildren also survive him.
Oregon Statesman 20 May 1914 1:4
INSCRIPTION: 
Dexter Field 
1841 - 1914
SOURCES: 
LR 
LD
OSBH DC (Marion Co. 1914) #1219  
1910 OR CENSUS (Marion Co., Chemawa Pct., pg. 70A) 
Barrick #147 
S&H pg 73 
30 Jan 1014, pg 4
OS 20 May 1914 1:4
Saucy Survey & Photographs
History of Willamette Valley, Vol. II, pgs. 267-269
Genealogy notebook maintained by the Field descendants, and donated to Pioneer Cemetery Researchers.
CONTACTS: 
LOT: 681 SPACE: 4 SW LONGITUDE: N 44° 55.186' LATITUDE: W 123° 02.925'
IMAGES:
     
 
 

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