Ray Gerking Tree, Bend, Oregon

August 17, 2004, the following message appeared on the Gerking GenForum at Genealogy.com. The author, Mike Berry of Bend, Oregon, has given permission to reprint his words here, and we're thrilled to do so because of the obvious connection he feels to the work of a 1908 survey crew member, Ray Gerking.

Looking in The Gerking Family in America, and getting confirming information from Casey Meshbesher's Family Tree Information pages on J. N. B. Gerking, we learned that Ray's full name was Willard Ray Gerking, but he was known as Ray. He was born 18 Aug 1889 at Gerking Flat, near what is now known as Athena, in Umatilla Co., OR. His parents were Jonathan Napoleon Bonaparte and Lucy (Pottorff) Gerking. J.N.B. Gerking was a successful rancher in Umatilla Co. before moving his family to Tumalo in Deschutes Co., OR, where he helped with the organization of the Tumalo Water District. Ray was married (1) to Ethel Bales and (2) to Bertha McQuinn. He and Ethel had one daughter, Helen Marie. Ray died 12 Feb 1965 in Bend, Deschutes Co., OR, of pneumonia.

Message 1.

     I’m not related to any Gerkings but I have found something that may interest any relatives of a Ray Gerking who lived in present day Deschutes County in 1908 (Deschutes was a part of Crook County back then).
     I’m a land surveyor and was shown a couple of trees scribed by Ray Gerking when he worked on a road survey here 1908.
     When roads were surveyed in this area at the turn of the century a “marker” was a member of the survey crew. The marker would scribe trees and etch stones along the center of the road with either the letter “R” (for “road”) or with mile marks such as “1 MI”. The marker would also hack 3 notches into trees bordering the centerline.
     The G.W. Horner road was established in 1908. The road started in Laidlaw (now Tumalo) and went northeast 16 1/4 miles to the Powell Butte vicinity where it intersected the Bend-Prineville Road. Most of this road has fallen into disuse. East of Deschutes Junction this road is presently a dirt road winding through B.L.M. land.
     The 1908 Surveyor’s Report for this road states that Ray Gerking was sworn in as the marker. I’ve found some of Ray’s handiwork along the old Horner Road, including “R” trees, notched trees, and the highly unusual “Gerking Tree”.
     This Gerking tree is a 20” diameter Juniper with a 3 foot blaze and the following scribing in the blaze:
          RAY GERKING R
    APR 26 08
     If anyone out there has in interest in Ray Gerking, I can email you photos of this tree. There doesn’t appear to be any Gerkings living in this area anymore, although there is still a Gerking Market Road out between Tumalo and Sisters Oregon.

Mike Berry
Bend, Oregon

Our ever-vigilant Historian, Janelle Jackson, posted a response letting Mike know that the Gerking Family would be very interested in placing the photos he has on our web site, and Mike sent his second message. Follow this link to Mike's next message.