• General Notes

  He was on the "lost wagon train of 1845," where they ran across the "Lost Blue Bucket" gold mine, not recognizing the yellow pebbles in the creek as gold.
  
  He was a preacher for the Methodist Church in Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Oregon.
  
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  At the time of Theophilus' first preaching, the Methodist Church issued 1 year certificates to preach under.There was 1 in Virginia in 1935, Between 1838 and 1845, he received several more certificates in Missouri. In 1836 and 1837, Theophilus recieved a total of 450 acres in Land Grants. All but 50 acres was on Powell Creek, Kentucky. The other 50, was on Begus Creek, Kentucky. The land, however, was not productive, and sometime between 1838 and 1841, he moved to Missouri with his brother Allen and Allen's family.After arriving in Missouri, Theophilus started preaching again. he was a "Circuit Rider" type of minister on the American Frontier.He officiated at many marriages. Not long after going to Missouri, Allen's wife, Mary, became ill, and died, leaving Allen with 8 children. Soon after, Allen lost his life in a prairie fire he was fighting. Another of Theophilus' brothers came to Missouri and took the girls. Theophilus moved in with the boys. There were 5 boys. In 1941, Theophilus married a young widow, Rachael Center Tull. Her husband had died of tuberculosis, leaving her with a baby boy, William Tull. By 1843, They had 2 children of their own, Mary and Isaac. The young couple became discouraged farming, due to low farm prices and lack of markets. The area was rampant with Malaria cases. They started to hear stories about Oregon, and in 1845, they left Independence, Missouri by wagon train to Oregon. Rachael's mother, Mary Center, a sister Lucy, and 2 brothers went along.Their destination? Oregon City! By June 20,1845, they had reached the Platte River. The leader of the wagon train was Captain Solomon Tethrow. After only a few days, he resigned, and Captain English took his place. The roads at first were in good shape, fuel for the oxen, and water was plentiful. Things changed quickly. They travelled 10-20 miles a day, so the trip was going to be a long one.According to Palmer's Journal, at Independence, the wagon train company decided to hold an election to choose a pilot for the trip. They had 2 volunteers. Mr Adams, would pilot the train to the end of the trail, for $500.00 in advance.Mr. Steven Meek, an old fur trader who claimed to know the land well, offered to pilot the train for $250.00 total, with only $30.00 in advance. They chose Mr. Meek.The book "Early Western Travels",says that on August 27, some 200 families separated from the main train. Mr. Meek was leading these 200, promising a shortcut over the mountains to the Willamette Valley, from Malhuer Creek. Soon the vegetation and water disappeared, along with the good roads. The only water was stagnant pools,even the cattle didn't want to drink. Those that did became ill,many dying, and many more so weak they could barely travel. The days were hot and the nights so cold ice formed in their water buckets. As if this weren't enough, it soon began the fall rain and winter snows. Much to their discomfort. According to family stories, this was the train that discovered the "Blue Bucket" mine. The stories say it was Theophilus that flattened a piece of gold on his wagon wheel, saying "It may be gold, but I do not know that it is." No one since has found the mine area, or any gold, though many have tried. By now the train was helplessly lost. A scouting party returned saying they had found a way out, just in time to save Mr. Meek from being hanged by the angry train members. Mr. Meek then left the train to fend for themselves.According to "History Of Oregon" by Harvey K. Hines,(on page 287) this was the ill-fated emmigrant train that was lost on Meek's Cutoff. After their rescue,the scouts found the Dechutes River. It took the wagon train about 2 weeks to find a place to get across. They ended up dismanteling a wagon,and using heavy cable, they made an aerial ferry.(Confirmed by both "Our Colonial Lines" and "History of Oregon") With that they ferried their belongings and families across the river. This crossing, was at Shearer's Bridge.

Details of Theophilus' family with Rachel Center