Notes:
Elias Buell, b. July 20, 1797, Benton, NY., m. Oct. 15, 1817 to Sarah Hammond (b. Jan. 22, 1800) in Allensville, Ind. They went over the Oregon trail in 1847. He died Nov 14, 1871 and she d. Jan. 6, 1885. DLC 4165, Polk Co.; arrived Oregon Nov.15, 1847.
The book Treasures in the Trunk has info about the Sarah Buell quilt in the Horner museum of the University of Oregon.
See History of Oregon, Pg 664, for Buell information with biography of Cyrus. This notes Elias was a blacksmith. In the fall of 1848, Elias went to California, mining gold on the American River and coming back with $2,000, which he used to open a sawmill and a flour mill on Mill Creek. AH Reynolds, a millwright from NY, built the mill for Elias (information from Charlotte Wirfs, printed in Benton County Bulletin, 2/18/1981)
The family has an account of the 1847 trip over the Oregon Trail by the Buell family, along with a family history written in 1870 by Elias Buell, and copied by Charles Buell in 1890. By marriage, the Buells are connected to these families: Blair, Carey, Conner, Findley, Hinshaw, McKune, Rowell.
Buell, in the northern part of Polk Co., Or. was named for Elias Buell, who started a mill there and a small store in pioneer days, per Oregon Geographic Names by Lewis A McArthur, Fifth Edition. The town of Buell is mentioned in the books All Quiet on the Yamhill, The Civil War in Oregon, the journal of Corporal Royal A. Bensell. George F. Walker's book A Slice of Country Life describes how his family ran the store at Buell during 1902-1915, and makes reference to some Blair and Ridgeway descendents of Elias Buell.
The children of Elias and Sarah were Emeline, Polina, Cyrus, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth, Caroline, Jerusha and Melissa.
Elias was a blacksmith, a miller, a Methodist, a Republican.
Places Elias lived included:
born July 20, 1797 Benton, NY.
November 1816: His father Samuel moved the family to Allensville, Indiana. Married Oct 15, 1817.
In 1820, in Switzerland Co. Indiana when 1st daughter Jerusha was born.
March 1821, moved to Bartholomew County, Indiana.
Moved to Tippecanoe County, Indiana.
Moved to Alexandra, on the Red River, in Louisiana, leaving Tippecanoe July 4, 1834, arrriving in October.
Moved back to Tippecanoe County, Indiana March 1835.
In Switzerland Co in December 1836 when Cyrus was born.
Started to Iowa at end of April 1837, landed at Burlington May 4, moved to Louisa County and improved a claim.
In 1844, moved to Mahkiska County Iowa, took up and improved a claim.
May 1846, left to go to Oregon. Got as far as Holt Co. MO, too late to cross the plains.
Left May 14, 1847 to go on Oregon Trail, arriving at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River on November 15, 1847
Established a claim in Polk County OR in May 1848
Left for California gold fields 14 Sep 1848; returned to family May 1849 with about $2000 gold.
Established new claim in Polk County 7 Sep 1849, where he established 2 sawmills and a grist mill.