Westfall, Oregon

Westfall is an unincorporated community in Malheur County, Oregon, United States. Westfall is about west of Vale. Westfall has a post office with ZIP code 97920.

History

Westfall was founded by Levi Westfall in 1870.

The Moses and Mary Hart Stone House and Ranch Complex, constructed in the vicinity of Westfall in 1898, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

1912 Gunfight

In its early days the town had been known as a tough town where gunfights often occurred. As time passed the gunfights all but ceased and life became routine and quiet for the most part. Until the fateful day of May 10th.

On 10 May 1912 Blacksmith Asa Carey , who had previously killed two men provoked a gunfight in the middle of Main Street ending the life of Marshal Jasper Westfall , who had been the Marshal just three short days.

Asa Carey had been a trouble maker for years. He was not a large man standing 5 ft. 7 inch (170 cm). And weighing 170 lbs. But he was strong and quick and had a short fused temper that had caused injury and trouble before. In 1906 Carey had shot and killed a cowboy named Frank Cammann in the Hart saloon and three years later he beat twenty year old Dan Brady so badly that he died three days later. He had pleaded self-defense in both cases and with the help of testimony from his cronies he had walked away from both incidences.

Carey was known as a bully and trouble maker in the best of times but his temper became even quicker when he had been drinking in one of his regular hangouts Frank Jones or Ivan Harts Saloons.

Carey let it be known in 1912 that he wanted to become the Town Marshal , a job that paid $75.00 a month which was a fine sum in those days. He claimed that since he often handled the drunken cowboys in one or the other saloons he ought to be paid for it.

When Ben Corbett resigned as Marshal in April of 1912 Carey wanted the job. In the absence of Mayor William West, the gentleman who normally choose the marshall, the town council after much badgering by Carey and his cronies offered the job to Carey.

Carey’s heavy handedness in the job soon became apparent. His reign as Marshal was short lived, however for when Mayor West returned May 7th, he immediately removed Carey as Marshal and appointed Jasper Westfall to the position. 40 year old Jasper was a relative of the City’s founder and was known as a fair minded sober man. He had built a new Home in Westfall in 1910 where he lived with his wife Daisy and two small children. Asa Carey was infuriated at the decision and only reluctantly surrendered his badge to the Mayor. He began drinking heavily on the night of May 7th and continued for the next few days. May 10th dawned to the quiet routine of a warm spring day. The townspeople went about their normal business greeting one another and peacefully enjoyed the morning.

Around noon Asa Carey wandered into Frank Jones’s Saloon armed with a revolver. After having several drinks Asa crossed the street to Hart’s Saloon where he continued to drink with his friend Art Ricketts. All day he continued to drink wandering back and forth between the two Saloons and boasting that he was the better man for the job of Marshal. He then went out onto the porch of the Jones Saloon and began whooping and yelling that the Marshal Jasper Westfall should come and quiet him.

Jasper at home about a block northwest heard the commotion Asa was causing and headed to the scene to quiet him. As he approached the Saloon Jasper saw a number of people watching from places of cover.

Jasper unarmed walked calmly up to Carey and ask him to quiet down. Carey stared at Jasper and said that if he tried to arrest him that he Carey would kill Jasper. Again, Jasper told Carey to go home and quiet down , but his words had no effect. Jasper then calmly turned and walked home where he buckled on his Colt revolver and strode briskly back to Main Street. Carey was now standing in front of Jones Saloon. Jasper approached him and told him he was under arrest. Carey backed away a few feet and Jasper pulled his gun and ordered Carey to come with him. Carey quickly dodged away and pulled his gun.

Witnesses could not tell which man shot first. Jasper’s gun had fired one shot and missed and Carey fired three times hitting Jasper twice. As Jasper fell, Carey swung his gun around challenging bystanders. He then stooped over the Marshal and took his gun.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Westfall has a semi-arid climate, abbreviated "BSk" on climate maps.

References

1870 establishments in Oregon
Populated places established in 1870
Former populated places in Malheur County, Oregon
Ghost towns in Oregon
Unincorporated communities in Malheur County, Oregon
Unincorporated communities in Oregon

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