Reuben and Mary Jane Shipley were among Oregon's earliest Black pioneer couples. Reuben was born into slavery in Kentucky and was brought to Oregon by his enslaver, Robert Shipley, in 1853. In return for driving the family wagon across the continent, Robert granted Reuben his freedom. Reuben worked for Eldridge Hartless and purchased 101 acres of Christian Bales' homestead. In 1857, Reuben Shipley married sixteen-year-old Mary Jane Holmes. The couple raised six children and were active members of Plymouth, an agricultural community near present-day Philomath. In 1861, Reuben deeded two acres to create Mount Union Cemetery with the condition that Blacks be allowed to be buried there as well as Whites. Reuben was buried there in 1872. Mary Jane lived until 1926 and is buried beside Reuben, along with four of their children. Their eldest son later installed a monument for the family in his chosen name of Ficklin.