Shipley Family Homestead

Shipley Family Homestead- Creating a Resting Place for All. Mount Union Cemetery is situated on land once belonging to Reuben and Mary Jane Shipley, one of Oregon's earliest Black pioneer couples. Reuben was born into slavery in Kentucky and was brought to Oregon by his enslaver, Robert Shipley in 1853. In return for driving the family wagon across the continent, Robert granted Reuben his freedom. Reuben worked for Eldridge Hartless and purchased 101 acres of Christian Bales' homestead. Family Ties: In 1857, Reuben Shipley married sixteen-year-old Mary Jane Holmes. The couple raised six children and were active members of Plymouth, an agricultural community near present-day Philomath. (Mary Jane, born in Missouri, came to Oregon with her family in 1844 when she was just 3 years old. Her parents successfully sued her enslaver to obtain her freedom.) An Inclusive Resting Place: In 1861, Reuben deeded two acres to create Mount Union Cemetery with the condition Blacks be buried there as well as Whites. Reuben was buried there in 1872. Mary Jane lived until 1926 and is buried beside Reuben, along with four of their children. Their eldest son later insalled a monument for the family in his chosen name of Ficklin.