Cora Miller Blevins
By Steve Lent, Historian
Cora Jane Miller was born in Linn county, Oregon Territory on November 29, 1850. Her parents had come to Oregon in 1847 and settled near Shedd. Cora grew up in the Shedd vicinity. Her family later moved to the Burns country where her father, Samuel, was elected the fist Assessor of Harney county. She met a young ranch hand named Isaac “Ike” Blevins. Ike was born on May 27, 1862 in Tangent, Oregon. He came to Central Oregon with his parents Penelton and Julia Blevins in 1871 and they settled on Upper Ochoco Creek near the confluence with Wolf Creek. Ike worked for his father on Ochoco Creek for several years then worked as a foreman for Miller and Lux near Burns. Cora and Ike became enamored with each other and were married in Drewsey, Oregon on January 8, 1888.
A son was born to them in 1890. the early part of their marriage was spent in the Burns area. They moved back to Ike’s parents home place on Ochoco Creek after the death of his father in 1906. Ike and Cora managed the home ranch and Ike also managed the Upper and Lower Farquar McRae ranch.
Cora became widely known for her expertise in the kitchen and the Blevins place was a popular stop for cattlemen and sheep men moving herds between summer pasture in the Ochoco Mountains. Cora became a superb horsewoman and loved the outdoors. She easily handled horse teams and frequently did most of the mowing of hay on their ranch. Others helped with domestic chores while she was mowing.
Social gatherings were common at the Blevins Place and Cora and Ike were cordial hosts. A lumber mill was located not far from the Blevins home and it was a common site to see heavily loads of lumber transported by horse teams passing by on the road in front of their house. They often stayed at the lower McRae place, more commonly known as the Wright place. Ike managed the McRae ranch for several years. The Wright log cabin was later moved to Prineville to be used as the Pioneer Park museum.
Cora and Ike lived on Ochoco Creek for the rest of their lives. Their son Lee became one of the early Forest Rangers on the Ochoco National Forest. Cora loved to hunt and fish and lived in the perfect environment for her passions. She died on September 28, 1930. Ike died the following year on October 15, 1931. They are both interred in the Mill Creek Cemetery. She had led a long and eventful life and left a legacy of pioneer spirit.