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I’m not related to any Gerkings but I have found something that may interest any relatives of a Ray Gerking who lived in present day Deschutes County in 1908 (Deschutes was a part of Crook County back then).
I’m a land surveyor and was shown a couple of trees scribed by Ray Gerking when he worked on a road survey here 1908.
When roads were surveyed in this area at the turn of the century a “marker” was a member of the survey crew. The marker would scribe trees and etch stones along the center of the road with either the letter “R” (for “road”) or with mile marks such as “1 MI”. The marker would also hack 3 notches into trees bordering the centerline.
The G.W. Horner road was established in 1908. The road started in Laidlaw (now Tumalo) and went northeast 16 1/4 miles to the Powell Butte vicinity where it intersected the Bend-Prineville Road. Most of this road has fallen into disuse. East of Deschutes Junction this road is presently a dirt road winding through B.L.M. land.
The 1908 Surveyor’s Report for this road states that Ray Gerking was sworn in as the marker. I’ve found some of Ray’s handiwork along the old Horner Road, including “R” trees, notched trees, and the highly unusual “Gerking Tree”.
This Gerking tree is a 20” diameter Juniper with a 3 foot blaze and the following scribing in the blaze:
RAY GERKING R
APR 26 08
If anyone out there has in interest in Ray Gerking, I can email you photos of this tree. There doesn’t appear to be any Gerkings living in this area anymore, although there is still a Gerking Market Road out between Tumalo and Sisters Oregon.
Mike Berry
Bend, Oregon
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