Elijah Bristow (1788-1872) from Virginia; Kentucky; and Macomb, Illinois is credited with founding the congregation. Bristow was the first non-Indian settler in Lane County. He acquired three trades - that of hatter, blacksmith and gunsmith. The balding Bristow is shown here with a hat - probably of his own making.
When he arrived in the area in 1846, he is quoted as saying, "There I will take my claim; and I am going to name it Pleasant Hill. That ridge with the mountains in the background reminds me of my boyhood home in old Virginia."
While Elijah had arrived earlier, his family came overland in 1848. He and Susanna had 15 children. He was affectionately called "Uncle Bristow." This was common among pioneer church leaders.
The family had a tremendous impact on early Oregon. The last preacher to descend from the Bristow family was Arlo, who preached his final sermon at the Norvale Park Church of Christ during the years before it became the present Garden Way Church.
In 1849 Elijah Bristow gave five acres for a church building, a school and a cemetery. The school was first taught in the winter of 1849-1850 and the building was used for church purposes. Services were conducted at the first by the heads of the families.
The church and school quickly outgrew their facility and a new one was built with lumber from a newly-constucted planing mill. It was adequate for an additional 21 years. The log building was moved to Elijah Bristow's property and used as a barn.
The first regular preacher was Gilmore Callison. His family arrived in 1852 from Illinois. The regular song leader at the church had become Robert Callison.
The first separate church building was built in 1875. As might be surmised from the two doors in the photo, the men sat on one side and the women on the other. Peter Rogers Burnett was the preacher at that time. While the building was built on property that originally belonged to Elijah Bristow, the property was deeded to the church by Robert and Polly Bristow Callison.
In 1881, the congregation reported 74 members. The elders at that time were Samuel Baughman, Robert Callison and Issac Newton Mulkey.
This rural congregation has continued without interruption since it was established making it the oldest congregation in Oregon remaining located in one place. Its present building dates from 1912. The Bristow family is memorialized in a street name.