Madras Pioneer and Long Time Jefferson County Clerk

By Steve Lent, Historian

Nellie Irvina Shutt was born in Chandler, Oklahoma on Nov. 11, 1901. Her family came to Oregon in 1902 when Nellie was one year old. They first lived in The Dalles for a short while then bought a wagon and team of horses and came to Central Oregon. They settled on Agency Plains near the rimrocks. Her father built a small shack that they lived in for a while.

Dryland farming was a difficult undertaking since it was very dependent on wet winters to support their winter wheat and grain crops. Her father had to hire out as a carpenter to make ends meet. They eventually built a new house.

Nellie started school in 1908 in an old two story school house in Madras. She graduated from Madras High School 1921. She began working in a telephone office in Madras while continuing a course in bookkeeping offered to graduates of the high school. She met Carl Watts and they soon became involved in a romantic relationship. Carl was born on March 26, 1900. They were married on Sept. 11, 1922. They both attended a year studying at Willamette University before returning to Central Oregon. Carl taught school in Terrebonne for a short before they returned to Madras and Carl taught at Mud Springs School.

Nellie returned to Willamette University to complete a second year of studies in 1926. While there Carl taught at Grizzly School. After her return they lived in Madras. They had three children. Carl became the principal of the Madras Grade School. In 1932 Carl, Nellie and her sister went to Salem and then made a grand 10-day hike across the Cascades.

Nellie served as Dean of Women at the Suttle Lake Epworth League Institute during the summers of 1932 to 1949. Carl began to experience poor health and he retired from teaching in 1933. He passed away on April 7, 1934. Nellie went to work for Jefferson County as a deputy in the County Assessor’s Office and worked there for seven years. In 1942 she was appointed to fill a vacant in the County Clerk Office. She was soon elected the County Clerk and she faithfully served in that capacity until her retirement in 1971. After her retirement she and a friend from Bend toured England, Africa, Greece and Palestine.

She was active in her church and local civic organizations. She passed away on Nov. 13, 1985. She and her husband Carl are buried in Mount Jefferson Memorial Park in Madras.