The Oregon Surveyor Sept/Oct 2018

16 Vol. 41, No. 5 The Oregon Surveyor | Answer The Lost Surveyor Arriving in Oregon by way of the Oregon Trail in 1845 William F. Dixon and Joseph C. Avery co-founded the City of Corvallis. Driving around Corvallis youwill findmany places and streets named after each of them, but who is the Lost Surveyor? Both had three children when they left for Or- egon (Avery eventually had 12 children); traveled the Oregon Trail; staked Dona- tion Land Claims that would eventually become the City of Corvallis; traveled to the gold fields of California in 1848–49 looking for riches; donated land to Ben- ton County to be used for City and County buildings; and finally both had a hand in laying the groundwork for what would become Oregon State University. Avery staked his claimon the bluff at themouth of the Mary’s River to be ready for steam- ers that he was sure would come up the Willamette someday. Dixon staked his claim to the north of Avery’s the following spring. The Benton County Courthouse occupies land donated by Dixon. This is where their paths diverged with regards to this story. According to the Benton County Museum Joseph C. Avery was our pioneer surveyor who, in 1850–51, platted 24 blocks of the town of Marys- ville which would later become Corvallis (compounded from latinmeaning of “heart of the Valley.”) The Applegate Trail was located nearby which also may have con- tributed to his decision regarding where to stake his claim and start a town. Avery Park in Corvallis encompasses a portion of the Avery’s land claim and is a popu- lar destination for local residents. Avery, like many pioneers, had numerous titles through his life. He was the first postmas- ter for the community of Corvallis, served as a legislator in the provisional govern- ment, ran a store and a printing press, operated a ferry across the Willamette, and surveyed the town of Marysville that he created from his land claim. Research of the Benton County survey records reveals that the plat of Marys- ville was accepted for filing February 25, 1851 and was presented for recording by “J.C. Avery proprietor of the town”. Avery may also have one of the first Af- fidavits of Correction on file in Benton County and possibly Oregon. In February of 1866, Avery filed a “Correction in the extension of Jefferson Street in Corvallis