Agency Plains Pioneer and Madras EntrepreneurBy Steve Lent, Crook County Historian
By Steve Lent, Crook County Historian
Born in Michigan in 1873, Edith Smith came west with her family in 1889, part of the great wave of settlers drawn to Oregon’s promise of land and opportunity. A few years later, she met William Moore—an Oregon transplant himself, originally from Missouri—and the two were married in 1894.
William and Edith made their first home on the wide, windswept flats of Agency Plains. William had claimed a relinquished homestead and built a simple cabin near Grizzly, where he worked at a nearby mill. The land was tough—dryland farming in Central Oregon offered little in the way of ease or prosperity. Edith later recalled the early hardships: endless sagebrush, plagues of flying ants and sage rats, and the daily chore of hauling water from miles away. She and the children often took on that task themselves, underscoring just how much of the work of building a homestead fell on women's shoulders.
Despite the challenges, the Moores kept their homestead while moving around for work. William took jobs wherever he could to support the growing family, and Edith maintained the home—no small feat under frontier conditions.
In 1912, the Moores made a significant change. They purchased the Madras Hotel, which had originally been built to accommodate travelers arriving by rail. As Madras grew around the new railroad line, the hotel became a bustling hub for visitors and workers alike. Edith managed the establishment, welcoming guests and serving hearty meals, while William met the trains at the depot each day, ferrying passengers to the hotel by wagon. The couple had two more children during these years, balancing business, family, and the fast-changing pace of a frontier town turning modern.
They returned to Agency Plains in 1916, hoping perhaps to make another go at farm life. But when the Great Depression took hold in the late 1920s, they were forced to give up the homestead for good. Back in Madras, the ever-resourceful Edith opened a café, the Cactus Inn, where she was known as a skilled and dependable cook. Locals remember it as a gathering spot—and a testament to her enduring work ethic.
Edith and William lived the remainder of their lives in Madras, staying active in community affairs. William passed away in 1942. Edith, still deeply involved in her church and her town, lived on until 1956. She died on January 5 of that year, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, entrepreneurship, and quiet determination. Both she and William are buried in Mt. Jefferson Memorial Park Cemetery.