Town of Crabtree in Linn County, Oregon

The tiny town of Crabtree, Oregon, goes back to around 1850. Crabtree Creek and Crabtree Lake were named for John J. Crabtree, a native of Virginia, who crossed the plains in 1845. After overwintering on the Tualatin Plains, John and Malinda bought the William Packwood claim east of the forks of the Santiam in the Spring of 1846.

They built a large log cabin to accomodate their 11 children.  Twins Fletcher and Jasper were the first babies  from the wagon train to be born in the Oregon Territory in the forks of the the Santiam River.

Phoebe Malinda Crabtree, daughter of George Crabtree, married my grandfather's father, George Washington Arnold, linking the two families.  Oregon land grant records show that Isaac Arnold (George's father) and George Crabtree had adjacent land grants, creating close proximity for my great-grandparents George Washington Arnold and Phoebe Malinda Crabree, to meet and marry, and start their family of 9 children.  My grandfather Markest Ernest Arnold was their first child.

Here is a look at the modern-day town of Crabtree, Oregon.