Canby Historical Society

Canby is a sustainable community rich in history and heritage with origins reaching into the 19th century. From its early pioneer days to the present, Canby has been fortunate to have visionaries whose contributions to the community have made and continue to make Canby a livable and thriving city.

We will occasionally feature a Notable Person, and in doing so, you will be introduced to Canby's pioneers, farmers, historians, government, business and civic leaders, industrialists and local residents with a lifelong dedication to the community who do tireless volunteer work and who form a vital part of the fabric of our community.

General Edward Richard Sprigg Canby
1819-1873

General Canby was a hero of the Civil War and the Indian campaigns. He was Commander of the Columbia Department of the US Army. The city of Canby, Oregon was named in honor of General Canby by his good friend, Ben Holladay at the time that Philander Lee filed the plat for the town in August of 1871. While on his way to the Modoc Indian wars, General Canby and his military unit camped near the Town of Canby for the night. While there, the General was heard to say that the town of Canby was the most beautiful spot he had ever seen and that after his retirement from service in the US Army, he was coming back to spend his remaining days.

On April 11, 1873, while negotiating peace with the Modoc Indians, General Canby was killed by Captain Jack, the Modoc Indian Chief, in the Lava Beds on the Northern California border. General Canby's body is interred at Indianapolis, Indiana, and a Cross Monument was erected in Lava Beds National Monument.

Elsie Egli Cutsforth
1918 - 2003

When we think of Elsie, we think of business and civic leadership, generosity, community spirit and an avid supporter of Canby Historical Society. We lost Canby's Matriarch on December 15, 2003. Elsie was 85 years old, born April 22, 1918 in the Ninety-one District of rural Canby Hubbard. She and her husband, Glenn were married in 1937. 1930s, bringing in generations of family to learn and run the store. They hired, over the Elsie and Glenn owned and operated the family's Canby grocery store since the late 1930s, bringing in generations of family to learn and run the store. They hired, over the course of decades, hundreds of local people.

Elsie was a staunch supporter and cheerleader of the Canby community, giving unselfishly of her time and assets from school activities and academics to community revitalization. Elsie and her family earned recognition and several awards for their community leadership, and the Cutsforth family have carried on that tradition. To quote Elsie in "A Life for Canby", a book chronicling her life, she gave to those less fortunate because "it was just something you did." Candy Historical Society will miss Elsie, and Canby is a better community because of her.

Herman Bergman

The Canby Historical Society will be missing one of its most important and influential members in the coming years with the loss of Herman Bergman. He was one of the original members and founders of the Canby Historical Society along with his wife Freda, who passed away in 2003. Thanks to Herman, the beautiful railroad station building that houses the Historical Society museum was saved from the wrecking ball. He spearheaded the huge effort to move the building from its original location on 1st Avenue to its present location.

Along with these efforts, he was an active member of both the Historical Society and the Canby community at large, serving as a Boy Scout Troop Master, the Depot Station Master, and was involved with organizations such as Kiwanis and the Rotary Club. His dedication and vivacity will be truly missed.