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Cedar Mill History Survey coming soon

We are preparing a survey to help us determine what you want from the Cedar Mill Historical Society. With the help of our pro bono consultants, Community Consulting Partners, a set of questions will be available soon. The survey will be online, and paper copies will also be available for anyone who prefers to answer that way. Watch for the invitation in your inbox this month. Your answers will help us design programs and projects that will bring Cedar Mill history to life.

Cedar Mill History Museum opens May 19-20

Saturday, May 19, 10 am-5 pm; Sunday, May 20, 1-4 pm, 12505 NW Cornell, across the breezeway from Bingo

Catch it before it's gone!

Elizabeth Young—Trail Orphan to “first lady” of Cedar Mill

Elizabeth Young, date unknown

Elizabeth Constable was born in 1840 in Missouri. Her family emigrated to Oregon in May of 1852. Her father, James Barton Constable, died in June. Her mother Martha had died two months earlier as they were preparing to leave for the trail. Elizabeth, age 11, was the oldest of five children. After James’ death, the five children continued with the wagon train. They arrived in October, and stayed for a while with James’ brother Edward Constable, who had already set up a farm in what is now Hillsboro. By 1860, “they are found in numerous households,” according to records provided to us by Ginny Mapes, esteemed Washington County historian.

We don’t know a lot about her life until she was 16, when she married a neighbor, John QA Young, on Christmas Day, 1856. JQA was the son of Elam Young who had brought his family from Ohio, arriving first in Oregon City in 1848. They established Hawthorn Farm, where Intel is now. It’s possible that they met at the Methodist Meeting House, which was located on the Constable farm.

JQA bought a sawmill, located on the falls of Cedar Mill Creek, in 1869. They built the saltbox style house that stands on Cornell today. They had eight children who survived, three died in infancy. JQA established a Post Office in 1874 and named the community, “Cedar Mill.” They built a new house across Cornell, and the saltbox house became the Post Office and general store.

JQA died in 1905, but Elizabeth lived until 1934. She died in San Diego County, and is buried next to her husband and several children in Union Cemetery.

The second Young family home. This was located above the NW corner of 119th and Cornell. It was demolished in the '80s to make way for apartment building.

Her daughter, Mabel Young, says this in her memoirs: “She was a wonderful soul. She brought fifty babies into the world (and never charged a penny of course) and the first thought among her neighbors in any sickness was “send for Mrs. Young.” She bore eleven children and raised eight of us. I was born when my oldest brother was in his twenty-fifth year. She lived to be ninety-four and a half.”

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