# The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811–1912/Volume 1/Chapter 12

CHAPTER XII
1844—1848.
THE COLONIAL PERIOD—WORKING OF THE PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT—RIVAL FACTIONS SILENCED BY LAND CLAIMS TOMAHAWK CLAIM DESCRIPTIONS TITLES TO LAND CLAIMS—PRICES, AND COST OF LIVING FOUNDING RIVAL CITIES, AND HOW THEY STARTED IMPORTATION OF HORSES, CATTLE, SHEEP AND GOATS—FOUNDATION OF THE FRUIT GROWING INTEREST ORGANIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES—COMMENCEMENT OF TRADE AND COMMERCE—DISCOVERY OF GOLD, AND THE OREGON MINT—BRIEF SKETCHES OF EARLY PIONEERS.
The American colonist in Oregon started with their little Provisional Government in 1843, under the spectral danger of serious trouble from two different, and to them, uncontrollable sources. If the British occupation of the region, in the guise of the Hudson 's Bay company, should decide to starve out the Americans, or drive them out through control of the Indians, they would be powerless to offer effective opposition until succor could come from the States—if, indeed, it would come at all. Or if the Indians upon their own initiative should commence a war of extermination, it was easily possible for them to Mil every American before help could reach them by either land or sea. Entertaining the opinions, which the great majority of the Americans did, of both British and Catholics, it is not surprising that great danger to the little colony was generally feared, and that the hostile feelings against their supposed enemies have come down to us in the writings and correspondence of the Protestants and Pioneers. History is replete with vast volumes of the experience of mankind showing the bitterness, malignancy and unreason for religious contentions and persecution, so that no apology is necessary for stating frankly that the progress of Oregon as an American Colony was shadowed by two ever-present questions of vital import: First, and greatest of all, was Oregon to be American or British territory? Second, the fear of an Indian uprising instigated by British, or British and Catholic influences. On the first question all the Americans were lined up in solid column to fight a British control of the country.. On the second question all the Americans stood solid to fight the Hudson's Bay Co. and the Indians as a common enemy; but as to Catholic influence on the Indians, the Protestant missionaries alone, feared trouble from that quarter. The mountaineers and old trappers like Joe Meek and Dr. Newell among the Americans did not take much if any interest in the fears of the Protestant missionaries; and did not consider one form of religion better than the other. That these sentiments of nationality and religion had a large influence, and did color the thought and social conditions of the early colonists cannot be doubted, no matter how hard it is to be believed bj" the people of Oregon in 1912. The correspondence, books and literature of that early day, and of the pioneer survivors of later times clearly show ​those feelings and ineradicable prejudices. And it was the greatest good fortune, and never to be forgotten by the Americans, that the power and influence of the Hudson's Bay Company was at that time exercised in Oregon by a man of the highest character for justice and humanity. Had John McLoughlin been anything less than the great man that he was, the American colony would have been starved out, if not otherwise disposed of by native Indian ferocity; and England would have owned and possessed the Oregon Country for all time. The reports of the British Agents Warre, Vavasour, and others, as well as the forced retirement of McLoughlin from the control of the H. B. Co. in Oregon, conclusively show that McLoughlin was condemned by the British management of the Fur Company in London, and by the British Government for permitting and aiding the destitute American immigrants to get a foothold in the country and organizing the Provisional Government. Under such clouds and conditions as these the Americans hopefully organized the infant state, and proceeded to establish their homes and American institutions in Oregon. To make this beginning at all in the face of all the doubts and uncertainties that surrounded the pioneers, required an amount of faith, confidence and courage that the Oregon citizen of 1912 can but little comprehend. Yet little by little, step by step, so small they would not be counted in this day, the great work of founding a state and establishing civilization, and all that is comprehended in the term, was accomplished.
The first matter that engaged the attention of our Oregon Pioneers was the land — six hundred and forty acres for each head of a family, or for the man able to bear arms and fight Indians. There was no law authorizing it but the law of the Provisional Government, and that had no more authority to dispose of the land than it had to send senators to congress or make treaties with foreign nations. But the land grant was proposed in Senator Linn's bill before Congress, and they expected it to become a law some time. The Provisional Government and everything else was founded on the land. If there had been no chance to get a tract of land for each man or family, the whole pioneer movement would have failed. And the bargain, proposition, or law, whatever it may be called, of those pioneers to grant land to each other as the foundation of their whole scheme for a new state, stands in bold relief as a matter of the most intense interest. The following extract from the land law enacted by the provisional legislature was the statutory authority for the original Oregon land titles:
Art. 1. Any person now holding, or hereafter wishing to establish a claim to land in this territory, shall designate the extent of his claim by natural boundaries, or by marks at the corners, and on the lines of such claim, and have the extent and boundaries of said claim recorded in the office of the territorial recorder, in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, within twenty days from the time of making said claim—provided, that those who shall already be in possession of land, shall be allowed one year from the passage of this act, to file a description of his claim in the recorder's office.
Art. 2. No individual shall be allowed to hold a claim of more than one square mile of six hundred and forty acres in a square or oblong form, according to the natural situation of the premises; nor shall any individual be allowed to hold more than one claim at the same time. Any person complying with the pro​visions of these ordinances, shall be entitled to the same recourse against trespass as in other cases by law provided.
Art. 3. No person shall be entitled to hold such a claim upon city or town sites, extensive water privileges, or other situations, necessary for the transaction of mercantile or manufacturing operations, and to the detriment of the community—provided that nothing in these laws shall be so constructed as to affect any claim of any mission of a religious character, made previous to this lime 1o extent of not more than six miles square.
Approved by the people, July 5, 1843.
Under this law was taken the titles to the land on which Oregon City, and the City of Portland were taken, and the titles thus initiated were afterwards by Chief Justice Williams of Oregon Territory, U. S. District Justice Deady, and the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed to be good and sufficient titles to the land. As there were no public land or other surveys provided for at that early day, the settlers had to take and describe their lands just as the early settlers in Western Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Kentucky, took up their lands ; that is by "Tomahawk" claim surveys. When a man went out and selected his land he took a light axe, or the Indian "tomahawk" and blazed on the trees a line of marks, or "blazes," around his land claim. In the prairie lands'be must plant posts at the corners and properly mark them. And these descriptions were recorded in the Provisional Government land records. Some of them are indescribably non-descriptive. Here follows a description of one of these original claims in Washington county twelve miles from the City of Portland, which includes a tract of land now owned by the author of this history.
Description
"Beginning at a point near Reasoner's old blacksmith shop near the mouth of a small kanyon, thence up that kanyon to the head, thence to an oak tree blaized on both sides with a T cut in the north side blaize, thence on a strate line with the head of said kanyon an oak tree to a point intersecting the east line of George Richardson or William Grahams land claim thence south to a point due west of a line that divides the land claim of James Hicklin and Darius Taylor, thence east to where it intersects the meridian line and thence to mouth of said kanyon to place of beginning, being the land claim of Darius Taylor."
Settling the land question was the first and greatest work of the Provisional Government. Then everybody went to work upon their lands, and to a great extent forgot or forgave their disputes about a government. The land law pioved to be the great peace-maker of the colony, and showed that the state buikl- ers had wi-ought even ^nser than thej' knew. For, as soon as this law M'as adopted, every Canadian that had voted against any kind of a government rushed to the Provisional land office to record his claim, or to stake out a new claim; and by so doing he recognized the Provisional Government and from this interest in the land became a supporter of the government.
HOW THE PEOPLE LIVED
The land law having practically, for the present at least, settled and quieted political discussion, there was nothing left to do but go to work, and this the im​this the im-
migrants did with a hearty good will. The government had prohibited slavery and whisky, had resolved to treat the Indians justly, and made peace with the Canadian settlers, so that the outlook for the colony was full of hope and pros- perity. M. M. McCarver, one of the 1843 immigrants, writes a letter under date of November 6, 1843, from "Tualitine Plains, Oregon Territory" to the Iowa Gazette, and among other things says : ' ' The emigrants are all as far as I know satisfied. Wages for a common hand is from one dollar and a half per day, and mechanics from two to four dollars. Wheat is quite abundant and sold to ship or emigrants, at one dollar per bushel. Flour is from nine to ten dollars per barrel; potatoes and turnips fifty cents per bushel; beef from six to eight cents per pound ; American cows from sixty to seventy dollars, California ( Span- ish) fifteen to twenty dollars. Nothing is wanted but industry to make this one of the richest little countries in the world. ' '
Another letter dated 1846 from Tallmadge B. Wood to Isaac II. Nash of Sara- toga, New York, furnishes the following extracts:
' ' I am now improving me a farm on Clatsop Plains. I have a splendid claim of six hundred and forty acres of land, about fifty acres timber, the rest prairie — - laying immediately on the Pacific. We are all very anxious to hear the result of the treaty (if one is made) between the U. S. and John Bull. AVe are very much afraid Uncle will fool away the north of Columbia ; if he does we shall be Solux (mad). We are very anxious the U. S. should extend her .iurisdiction over our valuable country, and we are nearly out of patience vnth the delay. We are not all thieves and runaways, as represented by the Hon. Mr. J\IcDufSe, nor our country a booty. Boy, if it is, it's inferior to none in point of beauty, pleasant climate, natural resources, and advantages of wealth; and if the settlers were ever thieves they have wholly reformed, for it is generally believed that no other colony has ever equaled this in point of braverj', enterprise, hospitality, honesty, and morality. There are men who arrived here in October last who have at this time one hundred acres fenced and sown to wheat. Now, all we want is a little of Uncle Sam's care, that, capitalists may be safe in investing their money.
"Merchandise is generally high here, owing to the scarcity and great demand Salt $1 per bush. ; sugar 12^/20 per lb. ; coffee 25c per lb. ; molasses 50e per gal. ; tea 50c to $1.50; nails 18c; window glass 10 to 12c per light; dry goods in pro- portion ; beef, pork, hides, tallow, and most kinds of produce taken in payment ; beef $6 per h. ; pork $10 ; hides $2 apiece by the lot ; tallow 8 to 10 e per lb. ; but- ter 20 to 25 c per lb. ; wheat 75c to $1 ; oats 75c ; potatoes 50c per bu. ; lumber from 15 to $25 per 1,000 feet; shingles 4 to $5 per 1,000; common laborers $1 per day; and mechanics $2."
William L. Smith and John Holman wrote two letters to friends in the east in 1844, from which the St. Louis Reporter printed the foUomng :
' ' The prospect is quite good for a young man to make a fortune in this coun- try, as all kinds of prodiice are high, and likely to remain so from the extensive demand. The Russian settlements in Asia ; the Sandwich Islands : a great por- tion of California, and the whaling vessels of the Northwest coast, procure their supplies from this place.
"There is as yet but little money iu the country, and the whole trade is carried on by orders on an agent or factor. For instance, when I sell my crop of wheat, the purchaser asks me where I wish to receive the pay. Vancouver is as yet the ​
THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON ;119
principal i)oiiil, aud an order on lliut i)oint enables the seller to procure goods, or cattle, or anything else for it.
"The population of this eounti'v consists of French, sailoi's, mountain traders, missionaries and emigrants from the states. The French population consists of old worn-out servants of the Hudson's Bay Company; they universally have In- dian wives, and many children, some of whom are very handsome ; this part of the population are Catholics. The sailors are those who deserted from vessels while lying on the coast, and have also intermarried with the Indians, and but few of them have embraced any religion — they are, however, generally good citizens. The mountain traders are similar to the sailors, except that they have nearly all embraced the Methodist or Catholic religion. ' '
Within a year after reaching Oregon, Peter H. Burnett, one of the leading men of the immigration of 1843, wrote a letter to the Washington City Globe, from which is taken the following extract :
"LiNNTON, Oregon, July 25, 1844.
"I am here in our new town, which we have named as above, in respect for Dr. Linn's services for this territory. Gen. il. M. McCarver and myself have laid out the tovm together. He is a gentleman from Iowa Territory, and laid out Burlington, the seat of Government. He is an enterprising man. Our place is ten miles from Vancouver, on the west bank of the Willamette river, at the head of navigation, and three or four miles above the mouth of the Willam- ette, and twenty-five miles below the Willamette Falls. I have no doubt but that this place will be the great commercial town in the territory. We are selling lots at $50 each, and sell them fast at that. At the falls there is quite a town already. I own two lots in Oregon City (the town at the falls). They are said to be worth $200 each. I got them of Doctor McLoughlin for two lots here in Linnton.
"It costs me less to live here than in Weston. ^lissouri. I paid for wood the last year I lived at Weston, $75 ; for coi-n and fodder $50. all of which is saved here. We use much less pork here than in Missouri. The salmon are running now aud will continue to run until October next. They generally commence running the last of February and end in October. I have had several messes of fresh salmon. At this point we purchase of the Indians ducks, geese, swans, salmon, potatoes, feathers, and venison, for little or nothing. Ducks, four loads; Feathers cost about twelve and a half cents a pound. There are more ducks, etc., here than you ever saw; also pheasants in great numbers. They remain here all the winter. I have hunted very little, being too busy. We find it very profitable to get of the Indians, to whom we trade old shirts, pantaloons, vests, and all sorts of clothing. They are more anxious to purchase clothes than any people you ever saw. You can sell anything here that ever was sold. Stocking Gary ploughs, $5 each. We had an excellent blacksmith living in our place who makes first rate Gary ploughs at thirty-one and a quarter cents a pound, he finding the iron."
These letters show how the people found things in Oregon sixty-eight years ago, and how they commenced life in Oregon. Burnett's prediction that Linn- ton would be the great city of this country did not come true, although it is now a busy little hunbering suliurl) of Portland. ​
While Burnett and McCarver did not succeed in picking out the site of Ore- gon's great commercial town, they came very near to it. On account of the great water power it was at the beginning believed by the first settlers that Oregon City would be the chief city in Oregon. There were not less than eleven locations for the site of the great city to be, a map of which is herein given, Van- couver being the first and Portland being nearly the last in the order of the several locations.
The first settlement in the district covered by this history was made at Vancouver in 1825, by the Hudson's Bay Company. The next within this district was also by the Hudson's Bay Company at Oregon City in 1829. In 1832, Dr. John McLoughlin, chief factor for the Hudson's Bay Company, blasted out and constructed a mill race to conduct the water from above the Willamette falls to a point below the waterfall, to be used in a mill to grind wheat into flour. This was the first work to start a business and manufacturing enterprise in this district. In 1838, McLoughlin had timbers cut and squared and hauled to the ground for the mill, and built a house at the "Falls." Several families settled at the "Falls" in 1841 and 18-42, and in 1843, Dr. McLoughlin surveyed oAl a mile square of land, and platted the town of Oregon City. This was the first town in Oregon, and the original rival to Portland.
Another location for a city, made in some respects anterior to Oregon City, was that of Nathaniel J. Wyeth at the lower end of Sauvie's Island, known in 1835 as Wapato Island. Wyeth was an enterprising young business man of Boston with considerable capital, and had been induced to launch a great trading and colonizing scheme to Oregon by the writings of Hall J. Kelley. Wyeth arrived in Oregon in September, 1834, having left Fort Hall on August 6th with a party of thirty men, some Indian women and one hundred and sixteen horses. On reaching Foi-t Vancouver, with Jason Lee, and others, the first Protestant religious services in Oregon or west of the Rock.y mountains were celebrated. Wj'eth took two of his scientific men in a small boat and started down the Columbia to find a good location to build a city. The party passed down and around Wapato Island, and finally decided to locate the future great city of the Pacific at the lower end of the island where his ship, the May Dacre, had tied up after reaching the Columbia and sailing up the river. This spot is just above where the government lighthouse on the lower end of the island is located. Here Wyeth assembled all this men, both from the over- land party and from the ship, and all hands went to work laying the foundations of the city. A temporary storehouse was erected, the livestock was landed from the ship, and then the goods landed and stored. Ground was cleared, streets were laid out and a row of huts built for quarters for the men; and the pigs, poultry, sheep and goats that had successfully made the trip from Boston, Mass., to old Oregon, were turned loose in the streets of "Fort William" — the name given b.v Wj-eth to his great western eit.y; and logs and boards were cut and sawed for permanent structures. Wyeth set up a cooper shop and set his coopers at work making barrels, into which he could pack the salmon they would catch in the Columbia to send back to Boston on the ship.
PHE NEW YORK
Tliis was the bugiimiiig oi' the great sahiioii industry of tlie (Joluiiibia river, antedating Hume, Kinney, Cook and others, thirty-five or forty years — but it was the last of AVyeth's city — the ship got about half a eargo of fish under great diftieulties; MeLoughlin discouraged trading with Wyeth, as he was com- l>elled to do by his company, and the whole scheme proved a failure. After the island was abandoned by Wyeth, the Hudson's Bay Company established a dairy down there under the care of a French Canadian named Jean Baptist Sauvie, which gave the modern name to the island, and started the dairy indus- try where it has flourished ever since.
Another city was platted opposite Oregon City in 1843, by Robert Moore who came to Oregon from Pennsylvania. J\Ioore named his city "Linn," in lionor of Senator Linn of Missouri, the friend of Oregon. A few substantial buildings were erected ou that side of the river and maintained a precarious existence until December, 1861. when they were all washed away by the great tiood in the Willamette.
But Moore was not to enjoy a monopoly of townsite advantages opposite the original Falls City, for one. Hugh Burns, proceeded to lay out another city below that of Moore's which he named Multnomah City, and commenced to build it up by starting a blacksmith shop and operating it himself.
Four years after Moore's venture. Lot Whitcomb, a man of push and enter- prise, from the state of Illinois, who built the first steamboat in Oregon, uniting with Henderson Luelling, a founder of the fruit industry in Oregon, and Captain Joseph Kellogg, a prominent steamboat man of later days, united their capital and enterprise to build a city that should eclipse all others, and founded the town of ]\lilwaukie — which is still prospering.
And as we float down the Willamette in our townsite canoe, we come to the town of St. Johns, laid out in about 1850 by James John, where he erected and operated in a very quiet way a country store for many years. But the tide of prosperity finally swung around to St. Johns but not until after its founder had passed on to the city beyond this life, and now St. Johns is the most pros- perous suburb of Portland.
And across the river, a little below St. Johns, we find the towns of Linnton and Springville ; Linnton being planned and platted in 1843 by M. M. McCarver and Peter H. Burnett. JlcCarver was a city builder, somewhat of the air castle style. He was so sure that Linnton would be the great city of the Pacific Coast, that he declared the only thing in the way of that result would be the difficulty in getting enough nails to the townsite in good season. McCarver made nothing of Linnton ; and then went over to Puget Sound, and along with Pettygrove, one of the founders of Portland, laid out the city of Port Townsend, and early pulling up his stakes there, went to old Tacoma and made his final effort in city building.
Continuing on down the Willamette slough, our townsite canoe pulls up to the south bank of the river near the mouth of Milton creek, where we find the re- mains of a city started there in the year 1846, by Captain Nathaniel Crosby, and named Milton. But whether the creek gave the name to the town or the town named the creek. Captain Crosby left no clue. It had a saw mill and a small population, and a convenient boat landing, but was finally over​
shadowed by the next city below — St. Helens — which was founded by Captain Knighton and others in 1845.
It is not hard to understand the fact of so many townsite locations having been made in the vicinity of Portland. Everybody in the country in those pio- neer days, could see as well as we can now, that there would be somewhere above the Columbia river bar a town started, which would grow into a great city, and make fortune or fortunes for the lucky proprietors. Every man had his individual ideas of the proposition. The city would either be at Astoria, where Astor located, or it would be up near the mouth of the Willamette river. It would be wherever the ships cast anchor to discharge cargo. If they did not stop at Astoria, they would sail on up the river until they reached the outlet of the Willamette Valley. And every man of much prominence was busily engaged in trying to find the favored spot. It was not even a question of buj'iug the townsite. The whole country was open to location. The land was free. No one knew whether it would be English or American. But it did not cost any money to claim it if the true location could be determined. And so there were, counting in Portland, the ten locations we have named ; and the result was a contest for the survival of the fittest; a purely evolutionary move- ment in a commercial development.
Every townsite proprietor had his unanswerable reasons why his town was the right place for the great city, but not one of them, except Hall J. Kelley, who has not been counted among the competitors, ever supposed there would be a town of more than twenty thousand people. The Oregon City lot holders with Dr. McLoughlin at their head, believed that the great water power for manufacturers at that point, and the head of navigation for ocean vessels, would build the city at the falls. i\Ioore and Bums argued that as their side of the river was the best place for the canal and locks and nearer to the Tualatin county farms by a ferry charge, therefore the city would be on the west side of the river opposite Oregon City. They guessed right as to the canal and locks, but missed on the farmers.
The Milwaukie ownei's claimed that Oregon City was not the head of naviga- tion, because the Clackamas river had dumped a pile of gravel into the Willam- ette, that ships could not get over, although Captain Couch had once got his ship clear up to the falls on the June freshet. But the gravel argument did finally "sand-bag" the hopes of all the falls people on both sides of the river. But while it shut out the two falls towns, it did not help out ililwaukie to any appreciable extent. Milwaukie had its days for several years, and then, had to yield to Portland.
St. Johns and Linnton united to decry Portland as the head of navigation, just as JMilwaukie had cried down the Willamette falls towns. They pointed out that Swan Island was an impossible barrier to ships from the ocean, and that while they could easily sail in over the Columbia river bar, and along up the Columbia to their towns, the ships could never do any business at Vancouver or Portland. And Linnton pointed with pride to the fact that it had three rivers to support its hopes and make sure its prosperity — the Columbia, the Willamette and Willamette slough.
Wyeth's townsite on the end of the nose of Sauvie's Island, was the first aspirant to the honor and profit of the great city ; and also the first failure in ​
TEE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON 323
the race fox' fame aud prosperity. Aud for the reason that Dr. McLoughlin had apparently transferred all his hopes to Oregon City while still holding Van- eouver as a vassal of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the occupier of the most- beautiful townsite on the great river. Vancouver was thus practically shut out from any chance to grow as a trade center, until after Portland got such a sub- stantial foothokl that its future could not be shaken. This left only Milton and St. Helens to contest supremacy with Portland's ambition.
It was soon shown that Milton, notwithstanding that it was boomed by a ship and a successful shipmaster, was too close to St. Helens ever to become a great city, just as Oregon City had conclusively shown that Portland was too close to Oregon City ever to achieve greatness. But St. Helens was the only town that ever gave Portland anything of a contest for the metropolis. Prior to the location of Portland, nearly all the ocean transportation came to and sailed from Vancouver, being almost wholly in the hands of the Hudson's Bay Company.
Lewis and Clark had given the world the idea that large ships could not come into the Willamette river. On their report to the President they say, speaking of what a great harbor the Columbia river might be: "The large sloops could come up as high as the tide water and vessels of three hundred tons burden could reach the entrance of the Multnomah (Willamette) river." At that time (1806) the largest vessel afloat did not carry more than a thousand tons, but the thousand-ton vessel could have come to Portland townsite as easily as it got over the Columbia bar. But everybody understood then that it would be in the end the ocean transportation that would locate the city. To secure that was to secure the city. Captain Couch and others, with little sailing ves- sels, had worked their way up to Portland without tugboats to tow them, for there were no such helpers in those days. But that was not decisive. Would the ocean steamers come to Portland? That was put to the test when the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the first proprietors of steamships regularly running to the Columbia river, bought a tract of land at St. Helens, erected a dock and warehouse and stopped all their steamers at that point. One of the most enter- prising men in Oregon at that time, or even since, was Whitcomb, who was energetically pushing the fortunes of his town of Milwaukie. He had town lots to sell; he soon had a steamboat; and he had a sawmill at ^Milwaukie that was making and shipping to the then mushroom gold diggers' town of San Francisco the very first lumber shipped from Oregon by an American — and he was making a pile of money. And so he pushed his town. The steani.ship company was pushing St. Helens, and sending freight up the river in little boats of all sorts — and Portland was practically between the Whitcomb devil and the deeji sea.
But Portland had some energetic men. The townsite proprietors, Stephen CofSn, W. W. Chapman and Daniel H. Lownsdale, were not only enterprising and energetic men, but they were able to see further into the future and make more of their opportunities than others. They saw their opportunity ; the opportunity that is
"Master of Human destinies."
And they lost no time in purchasing an ocean steamship that should ply between Portland and San Francisco. This vessel, the Gold Hunter, was kept on the San Francisco route until both Whitcomb of Milwaukie, and t ​he Pacific
Mail Steamship Company abandoned their opposition to Portland; the steam- ship company running all their ships to Portland, and WhitcomD running his steamboat from Portland to other points. It cost Coffin, Chapman and Lowns- dale in immense sacrifice in town lots to purchase the Gold Hunter and run her until the contest was decided. But they were equal to the occasion, and if their successors in real estate holding and business at Portland had possessed one-tenth of the energy and public spirit of these founders of the city, Portland would have been larger today than all the Puget Sound towns and cities com- bined.
In guessing at the location of the chief city of Oregon a lot of men missed their chance to get into the millionaire class. F. W. Pettygrove sold out a half interest in the Portland townsite for $5,000 worth of leather not then tanned, and went to Port Townsend on Puget Sound and died a poor man. Each of the townsite men had inflated ideas about city values, when only one guess could prove correct. They all saw the vision of vast wealth foreshadowed in the lines :
"Behind the red squaw's birch canoe
The steamer smokes and waves. And city lots are staked for sale.
Above old Indian graves; I hear the tramp of pioneers.
Of nations yet to be ; The first low wash of waves which soon
Shall roll a human sea. ' '
Two important facts combined to locate the principal city of the North Pacific coast at Portland. The first in importance was that of a ship channel from the Pacific ocean to tliis townsite; the second point was the farmer's prod- uce. Without that there would have been no city here. Fort William, St. Helens, St. Johns, and Linnton each had the first advantage equally with Port- land, but they were left behind in the race because they lacked the other advan- tage. The other point was equally vital when the race for commerce com- menced, for no matter how many ships could come in over the Columbia bar and come up the river, they must have some cargo to carry away. And they could only get that at a point where the farmer could come with his produce, and it must be the shortest practicable haul between the farm and the ship ; and Portland alone of all the other points offered that advantage. Portland alone of all the other points could complement the end of the ship channel with the shortest wagon haul to the farm and could thus halt the ship where the wagon unloaded. In these days of railroads wagon transportation would cut no figure. But in 1845, when the railroads had not even then reached the Alleghany Mountains from Atlantic tide water, the city must -be where the wagons and ships could meet. The scattered farmers of the Tualatin Plains of Washington county, hauling in their produce and hauling out their supplies through the old Canyon road, was a mighty factor in locating Portland as the chief city. And it is a notable fact that for more than half a century the people of Portland and the people of Washington county have always stood shoulder to shoulder in all enterprises to promote each other's welfare. When it was pro- posed to build railroads up the Willamette valley more than forty ye ​ars ago.
Portland gave its support to the road that vviis to run west into Washington county, and gave notliing to the road that was to run south along- the Willamette river. And years ago Portland built superb nuieadam wagon roads out to the Washington eounty line, and would have gone further west with them if the county line could have been pushed back.
now THE FARMEltS ST.VRTED
The settlers at the little river cities got comfortably started sooner than the farmers in the interior, for there was a sawmill at Oregon City, another at Mil- waukie, and still another at Vancouver before the country people could get any building materials, except what they hewed and sawed out by hand labor. The following description of the home of Joseph Gervais which was near where the town of Gervais is located, gives a good idea of the shifts and contrivances of the early settlers.
Gervais had substantial buildings, and LaBonte's description of his house and bam is very interesting. The house was about 18 by 24, on the ground, and was constructed of square hewed logs, of rather large size. There were two floors, one below, and one above, both of which were laid with long planks or puncheons of white fir, and probably adzed otf to a proper level. The roof was made of poles as rafters, and the shingling was of carefully laid strips or sheets of ash bark, imbricated. Upon these were cross planks to hold them in place. There were three windows on the lower floor of about 30 by 36 inches in dimen- sion, and for lights were covered with fine thinly dressed deer skins. There was also a large fireplace, built of sticks tied together with buckskin thongs, and covered with a stiff plaster made of clay and grass. The barn was of good size, being about 40 by 50 feet on the ground, and was of the peculiar construction of a number of buildings on early French Prairie. There were posts set up at the corners and at the requisite intervals between in which tenon grooves had been run by use of an augur and chisel, and into these were let white fir split planks about three inches thick to compose the walls. The roof was shingled in the same manner as the house, with pieces of ash bark. There was a young orchard upon the place of small apple trees obtained from Fort Vancouver.
The orchard mentioned here was the first in Oregon; but the trees were seedlings, and from seedlings at Vancouver where trees had been grown from apple seed brought out by Hudson's Bay Company clerks from London. The Gervais farm was the first in the Willamette valley proper. Prior to the Ger- vais location, Ettienne Lucier had cultivated a tract of land where East Port- land is built; and prior to that, Nathan Winship of Boston had attempted a location at Oak Point on the south side of the Columbia river about forty miles above Astoria in 1810, and had cleared and spaded up a tract of land for a garden and planted the seeds; and this was the very first attempt to cultivate the soil for any purpose in all the territory of Old Oregon. The next year, 1811, Gabrielle Franchere in the month of May planted twelve shriveled up potatoes that had come out to Oregon from New York in a ship around Cape Horn, and from which he raised 119 good potatoes, and from this start fifty bushels of potatoes were produced in 1813, thus giving Old Astoria the honor of starting the potato business in Oregon. In the year 1826, John McLoughlin planted at ​
Vancouver a bushel of spring wheat, a bushel of oats, a bushel of barley a bushel of corn and a quart of timothy seed, all of which had been packed on ponies from York Factory on the east side of the Rocky Mountains. From this start in grain there was enough wheat to supply the H. B. Co. and succeeding settlers with flour after the year 1828. Flax was cultivated first in Oregon in Yamhill county in 1845, in Clatsop county in 1847, and in the vicinity of Salem, about the year 1866, for the purpose of producing paint oil from the seed ; and a linseed oil mill and presses were erected not far from the Southern Pacific station at Salem in 1866.
The importation of live stock was commenced by the Hudson's Bay Co., in 1830, so that they had cattle, sheep and hogs for their own use, and was using rape for feed as early as 1832. The first large importation of cattle for general supply and sale was made by the Willamette Cattle Company organized by Jason Lee and others in 1836. Of this company Lee was financial agent, P. L. Edwards, treasurer, and Ewing Young (who had been denounced when he came to the country as a horse-thief) was made superintendent and sent to California to buy the cattle. Dr. McLoughlin took one-half the stock in the Company, Jason Lee and the settlers raised $1600, U. S. Naval Agent Slacum put in $500, and Mc- Loughlin the balance of about $900. "With that sum, after deducting expenses of getting and driving the cattle from the Sacramento valley to Oregon, Young purchased about seven hundred head of long horn Spanish cattle at three dollars a head, and forty horses at twelve dollars a head. The drivers got free trans- portation to Monterey on the government ship, and had to drive cattle and fight Indians through Northern California and Southern Oregon and take their pay in cattle at actual cost.
The importation of sheep for the production of wool commenced in 1842, when Joseph Gale of Oregon and his associates bought up 1250 head of cattle and 600 head of horses and drove them to Oregon for sale. That cattle drive broke up the cattle monopoly in Oregon ; and strange as it may seem there was a monopoly in Oregon in those Arcadian days. And along with and in the wake of Gale droves of cattle and horses came the first sheep for sale to Oregon settlers. On account of the wolves and other predacious animals, this first large flock of sheep was a great venture by a very venturesome man. Jacob P. Leese got his start in Belmont County, Ohio, a few years before the writer of this book got through the log school-house college in the same county. Leese conceived the idea while yet a young man, that if he could get a small ship by hook or crook, he could en- list a company of congenial spirits, and sailing from New Orleans around th( south end of South America they could land on the coast of California, capture the Mexican government, and set up an independent republic after the manner of Sam Houston in Texas. He was successful in recruiting his company, but he was unable to raise the money to buy a ship, and finally gave up the idea of eon- quest and fame as an empire builder. But he was so infatuated with the ac- counts he had read of the California Eden that he came out to that Mexican prov- ince in 1840 in a trading vessel and went into sheep industry among the Mexi- cans. This first flock of sheep — 900 head — was brought to Oregon by this man Leese, and was, according to John IMinto — a good jiidge — of very poor quality, being thin and light of bone and body, coarse wool of all graduations of color from white to black. One of the drivers of that flock told Mr. Minto, that al​
though there were only seven guns in the party they had to tight Indians every day until they crossed Rogue River; they lost twenty sheep crossing Klamath river, but that loss was made up by lamb increase on the way, requiring from four to eight pack horses to carry lambs along in panniers.
The first sheep brought across the plains to Oregon were driven over by Joshua Shaw and son in 1844. They were put into the cattle train to be used as mutton along the way, and those not so used reached Oregon in good shape, and proved a source of profit. The next flock from Missouri was driven over by Hugh Fields in 1847; and were a fine lot of all pnrjiose sheep, and was sold out to various parties in Marion, Benton and Yamhill counties. And as an inter- esting part of this history, it is to be recorded here, that St. Michael Fackler, the first Episcopalian minister to Oregon, drove this Fields' fiock of sheep all the way across the plains to distant Oregon, and literally complied with the Scrip- tural command, "to feed my sheep." Mr. Fackler has been commended by all histories of Oregon in the highest terms as a noble good man. The next sheep coming across the plains to Oregon was a flock of 330 head of fine wool sheep, brought across by Joseph Watt in 1848, some of them of Saxon, and others of Spanish Merino blood. Subsequent to the above importations of sheep, and for the purpose of improving these original flocks, the principal importers have been John Minto and Ralph C. Geer, of ilarion county, John Cogswell of Lane, Martin Jesse of Yamhill, and Jones & Rockwell, who imported from Vermont, American Merinos.
The first machinery for working wool was a carding mill brought to Oregon across the plains by Joseph Watt along with his sheep in 1848. And that was even a greater curiosity to the settlers than the sheep. It carded the wool ready for the farmei-s' wives to spin into yarn for stockings, and the domestic loom which could produce good flannel and the ' ' Kentucky Jeans ' ' ready for comfort- able clothing. And with this limited machinery the people got along until the first woolen mill was erected at Salem in 1857. The Woolen Mill Company was organized in 1856 by George H. Williams, Alfred Stanton, Joseph Watt, W. H. Rector, Joseph Holman, E. M. Barnum and L. F. Grover — Williams, president, J. G. Wilson, secretary, and John D. Boon, treasurer. They managed to scrape up $2,500 in cash and then sent Rector to the East to purchase the looms and other machinery, that would cost $12,000. And when Rector told the machinery men he had only $2,500, they were somewhat paralyzed, and wanted to know how he ex- pected them to send their goods away out to Oregon 20,000 miles around Cape Horn without security for their money. It is said "Uncle Billy" Rector re- plied to that stunner by saying: "Look into my face, gentlemen. If you cannot trust me when I say you shall have your pay, my trip is a failure." "Uncle Billy" got the machinery and the manufacturer got his mone.y; showing that the trust in mankind was much greater fifty-five years ago than it is in 1912.
Although the goat and mohair interest in live stock did not take root in Ore- gon in the same era with horses, cattle and sheep, yet it is so intimately con- nected with these interests that it may as well be noticed in this connection. The goat took an early start along with man and sheep in the tedious uplift from bar- barism to civilization. From its more timid and gentle nature it is probable that the sheep was domesticated b.v man liefore the goat. But as man increased in knowledge and wickedness it was concluded by the learned barbarian ​of ancient
times, that it was necessary to unload his sins upon some dumb animal in order to get a clean bill of moral health and take a fresh start in the world. And looking around among the beasts that had been tamed "Billy Goat" was selected as the "Scape Goat." That was probably the first honor the unfortunate wild goat was elected to by the Levites 2,500 years ago. And considering the humility and utility of the poor goat, and the meanness and worthlessness of the sinners, whose sins, crimes and shortcomings the goat was compelled to bear away into the wilderness, the verdict of history must be in favor of the goat.
The Angora breed of goats, now bred in Oregon originated in the vilayet of Angora, in Asia Minor, but it is not known when that was. Some have ventured to say that it was 2,400 years ago. There is evidence that goes to show that they were a distinctive breed when Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt. Goat's hair was spun by the Israelites for curtains and other purposes for use in the temple.
The city Angora, the capital city of the vilayet Angora is the ancient Ancyra, and is located about 220 miles southeast of Constantinople. Angora was the seat of one of the earliest Christian churches, which was probably established by the Apostle Paul. The province is mountainous, furrowed by deep valleys, and about 2,900 feet above the level of the sea.
It was here that this famous goat reached its perfection. That the altitude, the soil, or the climate, or all of them together, had much influence in producing this fleece-bearing goat, is supported by strong evidence. Dr. John Cachman and the Encyclopedia Britannica both state that the fineness of the hair of the Angora goat may perhaps be ascribed to some peculiarity in the atmosphere ' ' for it is remarkable that the cats, dogs and sheep and other animals of the coun- try are to a certain extent affected in the same way as the goats. ' '
For much of the history of the Angora goat in the United States which dates from 1849, this work is indebted to the Oregon Goat Breeders' Association. Dr. James B. Davis of Columbia, South Carolina, was presented with nine choice animals by the Sultan of Turkey. The Sultan had requested President Polk to send a man to Turkey who understood the culture of cotton. Dr. Davis was ap- pointed, and upon his return to America, as a courtesy, the Sultan presented him with the goats.
Col. Richard Peters, of Atlanta, Georgia, in 1854, secured most of these goats and in 1885 made an exhibit of their progeny at the New Orleans World's Fair. These were followed by the Chanery importation in 1861, the Bro-^vn & Diehl in 1861, and it was from some of these that the flock of C. P. Bailey & Sons was started.
Then followed the Eutichides importations of 1873, the Hall & Harris of 1878, the Jenks in 1880, and the Bailey importation of 1893. In 1901 W. C. Bailey im- ported two bucks and two does from Asia Minor direct, and in 1901 Wm. Landrum imported two bucks from South Africa, and Hoerle in 1904 imported 130 head from South Africa.
At the present time it is improbable that any more importations can be made, as a royal decree prohibits exports from Asia Minor, and a prohibitive duty in South Africa of .$486.00 per head has destroyed any hope of a successful importa- tion from that countrv. ​
THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON ;r29
Ifowovi'i-, ;is it is now <;cii('raiiy coiiceiled our flocks arc oi' as high (|iiaiity as aii.\ in the wiirld, we ha\r iiothiiiii- much to lose by these restrictions.
'I'iie Angora goats of Oregon are of a good type, the foundation stock l)eiiig the higli grade Angoras introduced fifty years ago.
In 1872 or 7;^ Mr. Lantlrum exhibited a small flock of Angoras at the Oregon State Fair at Salem, and the following year brought an additional ten animals for exhibition. His first flock pastured in a brush enclosure near Salem, having created a great interest in Angoras throughout that section, a large sale flock was brought into the Willamette Valley by him in 1874 or '75.
According to Mr. George Houck, writing in the Oregon Agriculturist and Rural Northwest (November 1, 1897), the first Angora goats brought to Oregon came from California about 1867. The band, consisting of one hundred and fifty-two animals, was from the flock of Thomas Butterfield, a former associate of William M. Landrum, the pioneer In-eeder, who first introduced Angora goats in California.
These were brought here l)y Mr. A. Cantral, and he was one of the first, if not the first, to introduce them into the Willamette Valley. They were fifteen- sixteenths and thirty-one thirty-seconds Angoras. There were 150 ewes, which cost Mr. Cantral $12.50 each, and a pure-blooded buck and one pure-blooded ewe. For these two he paid Mr. Buttei'field .$1,500, this being the highest price for two Angoras by an Oregon breeder at that time of which there is any record.
Mr. Cantral located near Corvallis. Some of the older Angora breeders still remember when he made an exhibit at the Oregon State Fair.
Most of the goats of the state of Oregon are descendants from this Landrum stock, their record of breeding being traceable through the Peters flock to the animals of the original Davis importation from Turkey. Many other flocks have since been brought into the state, notably that of John S. Harris, a late im- porter of Angoras from Turkey, until today, as the outcome of forty years ex- perience with this class of stock, the Oregon breeders have developed a very fine type of Angora goats — rugged, robust animals, of large size and densely covered with mohair of good quality.
With such stock for foundation, our present' breeders have from year to year by intelligent breeding and patient care, combined with a knowledge of climate and local conditions, developed a quality that is the envy of the world and a source of pride to the state.
We have today men who have achieved a national reputation through their interest and development of the Angora and mohair industry. Men like Wm. Riddell & Sons, of Monmouth, Oregon; U. S. Grant, of Dallas, Oregon; J. B. Stump, of Monmouth, Oregon, and E. L. Naylor, of Forest Grove, Oregon, are known from coast to coast and are entitled to the gratitude of the public for the incalculable good done by the exploitation of an industry that has added millions to the wealth of the state.
From the' initial importation fifty years ago the industry has flourished and broadened out until there is scarcely a county in the state in Oregon where they may not be found ; and the State of Washington is taking thousands there to put to work on her waste lands. Polk county. Oregon, has been and is still the "Blue Ribbon" county for Angoras. There will be found the famous flocks of Grant, Farley, (iuthrie Bros.. Riddell & Sons. Stump, McBee, and others, and ​for years the sale of bucks has been a source of profit to the owners, aside from the annual sale of the mohair, which averages about 150,000 pounds for Polk county.
Angora husbandry in Oregon now ranks well in importance with the livestock pursuits of the State. Oregon is second, if not first in number of Angora goats and production of mohair in the United States, the annual clip from its flocks of Angoras running in value well toward $50,000, while the value of their yearly increase approximates $400,000. More than half a million dollars of new wealth is added annually to the yield of Oregon farms from Angora goats. Oregon mohair ranks with the best in the eastern markets and commands the highest market prices.
FOUNDING THE FRUIT INTERESTS
As "Johnny Appleseed" (whose real name was Jonathan Chapman) was the fore-runner and fore-planter of apple trees in the Ohio valley in 1805, so also was Henderson Luelling in like manner the good missionary of all fruits to the region of Old Oregon in 1847. Johnny "Appleseed," so called by the first settlers in Ohio, came over the Alleghany Mountains through the pass that General Braddoek followed on his ill-fated expedition against the French at old Port Du Quesne (later Pittsburgh) in 1755. But "Appleseed" passed through about fifty years afterwards carrying with him a paekhorse load of apple seed and seedling trees which he planted in the settled places of Central Ohio. And forty-two years after "Appleseed" commenced planting nurseries on Licking river, Ohio, Luelling took up his line of march carying his precious load of grafted apple sprouts twenty-five hundred miles from Salem, Iowa, to Oregon. Thus it is seen by the unselfish labors of these two men, and by two long strides, apple trees were transplanted from Eastern Pennsylvania to the wilds of Western Oregon. "Appleseed" transported his cargo on a paekhorse, while Luelling planted his 700 little trees in boxes twelve inches deep and wide enough to fit snugly in the bed of the wagon; and thus day after day watering the precious young scions he safely landed them after six months of watchful care on the banks of the Willamette river at the place where the town of Milwaukie now stands, and there about half a mile north of the townsite started the first tree nursery in 1847, west of the Rocky Mountains.
Luelling 's trees were not the first fruit trees in Oregon; but they were the first grafted trees, trees that bear improved fruit true to name. The Hudson's Bay Company had fruit at Port Vancouver; but it was all the produce of seeds and pits of stone fruits brought out from England in 1825, and from its variety was at that time considered very fine.
One of these old Fort Vancouver apple trees is still (1912) standing at the southwest corner of the U. S. Military Reservation in front of the Chief Commissary's office at Vancouver, in apparent good health after having borne crops of fruit annually for more than eighty years.
Subsequent to Luelling's other nurseries were founded; but Luelling's was substantially the foundation of all the good orchards started in the pioneer era of Oregon. In four years from planting these young trees Luelling had a few apples to sell, and sending a few boxes down to California, sold them out to the gold miners for a dollar for each apple. The trees soon came into bearing and apples were plentiful—so plentiful, that in less than fifteen years after Luelling sold apples for a dollar apiece, thousands of bushels rotted on the ground and the farmers were feeding them to their hogs to get rid of them. The fruit industry is now a great source of wealth to Oregon, and apples are shipped away to New York and for the European market by the train load; and it is in point of importance as well as years, as far back to Luelling's little grafts, and later on to the labors of Joseph A. Strowbridge traveling around over Multnomah, Clackamas, Yamhill and Marion Counties, gathering up little lots here and there to ship by steamship to San Francisco. Mr. Strowbridge did for the apple trade what Luelling had done for the orchardist—he pioneered the business, and on November 18th, 1854, the (Portland) Oregon Weekly Times newspaper gives his business the following notice:
"We were shown by our friend Jos. A. Strowbridge the largest quantity, and the best quality of apples we have ever seen in Oregon. He had some 300 bushels, comprising almost every desirable variety of grafts gathered from the orchards of the valley. It was a pleasant sight to the eye, and equally pleasant to the taste. Indeed, our visit to his storehouse was a tasty treat."
In the summer and autumn of 1857, ten years after Luelling's planting, the fruit interest had so increased that the enthusiastic fruit growers commenced to hold meetings and exhibit their choice fruit, making fine displays of apples, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, gooseberries, plums and pears, which were clean of all pests and fruit diseases. Among the growers of fruit attending those meetings were George Walling, Albert G. Walling, Morton M. McCarver, J. H. Lambert, Henry Miller, Thomas Frazar, James B. Stephens, Dr. Perry Prettyman, J. H. Settlemier, Seth Luelling, A. R. Shipley, and Dr. J. R. Cardwell, all of whom have passed on except Dr. Cardwell. Monthly meetings were held for several months, and called meetings were held two or three times in the summer and fall of 1858.
Counties in the Willamette valley began organizing agricultural societies in the following order: Yamhill county, October 22, 1853; first fair held October 7, 1854, at Lafayette; F. B. Martin, president; Ahio S. Watt, secretary.
​Polk county, April 3, 1854; first fair, Dallas, October 12, 1854; James M. Fulkerson, president; John E. Lyle, secretary.
Washington county. May 25, 1854; first fair, West Tualatin (Forest Grove), October 5, 1854 ; Thomas G. Naylor, president ; J. M. Keeler, secretary.
Linn county, May 3, 1856 ; first fair Albany, October 10, 1856 ; Delazon. Smith, president ; D. H. Bodine, secretary.
Lane county, April 7, 1859 ; first fair, Eugene City, October 11-12, 1859 ; Avery A. Smith, president; Stukeley Ellsworth, recording secretary; E. E. Haft, corresponding secretary.
Jackson county, February 8, 1859; first fair, Jacksonville, October 4-5, 1859 ; W. C. Myer, president ; J. H. Reed, secretary.
Benton county, August 2, 1859; first fair, Corvallis, October 13; A. G. Hovey, president; E. M. Waite, secretar}^ Multnomah county, November 19, 1859 ; first fair, Portland, October 2-3, 1860 ; Thomas Frazar, president ; Albert G. Walling, secretary.
Clackamas county, April 28, I860; first fair, Oregon City, September 27-28, I860; A. L. Lovejoy, president; William Abernethy, secretary.
The Umpqua Valley Agricultural Society was organized late in the summer of 1860; first fair, Oakland, November 2, 1860; R. M. Hutchinson, president; J. R. Ellison, secretary pro tem.
A pomological convention was held in Salem, October 20, 1858, as the result of a call by fruit-growers from Clackamas, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill counties, and the "Fruit-Growers' Association of Oregon" was organized, with Amos Harvey, Polk county, president, and Chester N. Terry, Salem, secretary. The meeting was a successful one and thirty-one exhibitors were present.
The original members of this association were as follows:
Barnhart, C. Harvey, A. Stanton, Alfred Brock, D. Howell, Joseph Stone, E. G. Cox, Joseph Jones, George M. Ruble, William Cornelius, G. Ladd, J. W. Taylor, William B. Davenport, T. W. Lewelling, Seth Terry, Chester N. Gilbert, I. N. Pearce, Ashby Walling, J. D. Cox, William Prettyman, Perry Woodsides, J. Gilmore, S. M. Schnebley, D. J.
By concert of action all the county fairs in the year 1859 sent delegates to a convention appointed for February 22, 1860, in Salem. Nine counties were represented in the convention, of which J. Quinn Thornton was president, and Joseph G. Wilson, secretary. After discussion, the "Oregon State Agricultural Society" was organized, with William H. Rector, president, vice-presidents to represent every county; Samuel E. May, corresponding secretary; Lueien Heath, recording secretary; John H. Moores, treasurer — all of Marion county. An invitation was extended to the representatives of the "Oregon Fruit Grow- ers ' Association ' ' to merge that body with the Agricultural Society, and on Sep- tember 10, following the necessary action to that end was taken. On that day George Collier Robbins, Portland, was elected president. It being found ​impracticable to hold the first state fair on the Linn county fair grounds, as planned in the spring, it was decided to postpone the matter for a year and hold the fair in Clackamas county on October 1-4. The site of the fair was on the north bank of the Clackamas river, about half a mile east from its junction with the Willamette river, near the present town of Gladstone. The area occupied was four acres, and was upon the donation claim of Peter M. Rinearson, a pioneer of 1845. The day before the fair was opened Robbins resigned as president, and Simeon Francis, then editor of the Oregonian, was elected, and made the annual address. There were one hundred and forty-two exhibitors and two hundred and sixty-two premiums were awarded. The receipts were $1,446.17 and expenditures $1,200.67, leaving a balance of $245.50.
In closing up the business of this first state fair in Oregon the board of directors decided that the site used was not satisfactory, and advertised for proposals for a place to hold the second state fair. In response four counties responded—Lane, Linn, Marion and Yamhill—and the proposal from Marion county was accepted as being the most favorable, and the date of the second fair was fixed on September 30, 1862, to continue four days. At a meeting of the Oregon Agricultural Society on September 18, 1862, the vote of the stockholders was taken to settle the question of permanent location, and resulted as follows: Corvallis, 1; Eugene, 1; Salem, 65; Oregon City, 2.
commencement of trade and commerce
While the coming of ships into the Columbia river from Capt. Gray's discovery in 1792 down to the first steamship—the Beaver, in 1836, are matters of great historical interest, and noticed herein in other chapters, yet no one of them or all of them together, constitute the commencement of foreign commerce with Oregon. Gray's ship, and all the shipping of the Hudson's Bay Co., down to and including the first steamship, the Beaver, were strictly fur trading propositions limited to a special interest and coming for a single purpose, and not for trade in general. Winship's and Wyeth's ventures, if successful, would doubtless have grown into a general business and served all interests and persons without discrimination. The mistake of these two American traders was that they anticipated the prospects in Oregon by a dozen years or more. The timber was here and to be cut without leave or license from any one; but there was no market for it to be reached by either Winship or Wyeth. The fish was here without limit, but modern methods of taking and curing them had not been discovered, and Indian labor was inadequate to the undertaking; and so Wyeth's efforts were fruitless at his fishery. Capt. John H. Couch who came out with the ship Maryland in 1840, made the same mistake that Winship and Wyeth did. But it was not his mistake, but the mistake of the owners of the ship—the Cushings of Newburyport, Mass. Couch quickly discovered that the Indians could not be relied on to load a ship with dried or salted salmon. It is generally believed that Jason Lee inspired the Cushings to make this venture. But Capt. Couch being a practical man, measured up the prospects and advantages of this country and returned to the Columbia river with another ship in 1842, and a stock of general merchandise suitable for a new country; and with this merchandise opened a store at Oregon City and placed it in the hands of George W. Le Breton ​
and Albert E. Wilson to dispose of for trade with the few settlers in the country. It proved a success, and Couch was enabled by the trade started in this way to keep his ship employed between the Columbia river and the Sandwich Islands until the year 1847, when he returned home to Newburyport by way of China. In the following year Couch engaged with merchants in New York to bring a cargo of goods to Oregon on the bark Madonna, Couch's brother-in-law, Capt. George H. Flanders, coming along as second officer of the ship. This ship tied up to an oak tree on the bank of the river at the new town of Portland. This cargo of goods, the first ever landed at Portland, was stored and sold out at Portland. These two men, Couch and Flanders, went into business together, set their stakes at Portland, and remained here as their home port for the rest of their lives; Couch taking up 640 acres of land as a donation, which is now all covered with Portland business houses and homes. It was John H. Couch that opened the commerce of Oregon with the world ; and it was John H. Couch who settled the future of Portland as the commercial center of the Columbia river valley. Capt. Couch had a wide acquaintance with ship captains on both the Pacific and At- lantic oceans ; and he informed them that they could bring their ships safely in over the Columbia river bar, and safely take them up to the town of Portland, but no higher up ; and all ships to Oregon after that followed his suggestions. And thus was commerce opened between Oregon and all the world. These first ships did not get much freight to carry away ; and what little they did get, was made up of hides, furs, salted salmon, wheat and lumber. As soon as Whitcomb got his saw mill in operation in Milwaukie in 1848, he always had a little lumber to ship.
THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD
The greatest economic event in the first one hundred years after the American revolution was the discovery of gold in California. At first thought this seems to be a very unfounded statement. But a careful survey of the whole field of enterprise, the commerce of the world, and the standard of living throughout the United States, will show that the discovery of gold wrought a greater change in the United States and the financial relations of this country to other nations, than any other one fact, or any other one hundred facts, subsequent to the inde- pendence of these states.
Up to the year 1848 the United States had possessed a very narrow metallic base for a circulating medium. And what the country did possess was mostly silver coin. Gold coin, the delight of kings and the sceptre of millionaires, was exceedingly scarce in the United States ; and on this account the financial stand- ing of this country and the rating of its securities were practically at the mercy of the Bank of England, and the house of Rothchilds, which financial institutions either possessed or controlled the great bulk of the gold coin of the world. When the mines of California commenced to pour out their great flood of gold, every line of business in the whole of the United States took on new life. And within five years after this great discovery, there were more manufacturing establish- ments started in the United States than had been for a generation before that event. The banking institutions took on a new phase altogether. From securing circulating notes with deposits of State's bonds, which were not payable in gold, ​
and of doubtful specie value on any liquidation of assets, the banks began to accumulate gold. Gold begot confidence as nothing else ever had before, and people more treely deposited their savings in banks. From a starving little near-to-shore business, the banks were enabled to extend accommodations to man- ufacturers and producers of wealth. And railroads that had been for twenty years creeping out slowly from Atlantic seaports to the Alleghany mountains, found sale for their securities, pulled on over the mountains and out into the great IMississippi valley, and on across the continent, reaching Portland, Oregon, a quarter of a century before they had expected to get to Chicago under the old paper money financiering days before the discovery of the gold. The flood of gold changed the whole face of affairs, put new life into all business and com- mercial undertakings, brought all the States and communities together under one single standard of values, and pushed the United States to the front as the greatest wealth-producing nation on the fact of the earth.
And here Oregon comes to the front again. The discovery which lifted Amer- ica above all the nations was made by an Oregonian. James W. Marshall, the discoverer of gold in California, was an Oregonian. He came to Oregon in the immigration of 184-4, and not finding much to do here, went down to California the next year. He was a handy sort of a man, could build a house, run a saw- mill, or keep store. In California he made himself useful to the old pioneer, Capt. Sutter and was taken into Sutter's business as a partner, and sent up from Sacramento into the Sierra Nevada mountains to select a site and build a sawmill. He selected the point at Coloma, on the south fork of the American river and built the mill. After turning the water on his mill wheel, he had occasion to go and look at the tailrace, and there on the 19th of January, 1848, discovered the shining particles of gold in the tailrace where the water had washed the sand from the gold. Two other Oregonians who had been employed by Marshall to help biiild the mill — Charles Bennett, of Salem, Marion county, and Stephen Staats of Polk county — were there at the mill at the time, and were called to look at the gold in the water and confirm the discovery. Bennett, having mined gold in Georgia and North Carolina in 1835-36, was the only one who knew what native gold looked like, and it was his decision that settled the question.
The discovery spread like wildfire, and Californians rushed in from all quar- ters. But it was not known in Oregon until five months after the discovery. And then the Oregonians went wild. Everybody that could get away, rushed to California, and nobody was left but old men, boys and women folks. Two- thirds of the Oregon men started for California. Only five men were left in Salem, and only a few women, children and some Indians were left at Oregon City. Pack trains were the first means to get to the gold fields; and after that a train of fift.y wagons started. The first account of the gold received in Oregon was on July 31, 1848. The little schooner Honolulu from San Francisco sailed in over the Columbia bar and slowly beat her way up the river, and finally tied up to an oak tree where the west end of the steel railroad bridge in Portland now stands. The captain of the schooner was in a hurry to discharge cargo and get away. He made haste to load up with all the meat and flour his ship could carry, and then bought up all the picks, pans and shovels he could find in town. ​
And when he got everything aboard, he made known the news, and it spread as if by the wireless telegraph of sixty years later.
THE OREGON MINT AND BEAVEE MONEY
The Oregon rush to California for gold resulted in bringing back within a year unimaginable wealth. From poverty the Oregonians had leaped to great riches at a single bound. The miners not only returned loaded down with gold dust, but the few people that had remained in Oregon had got rich in shipping down to the mines their flour, beans, bacon and lumber. From a legal tender currency of beaver skins and bacon sides, Oregonians were struggling with a cur- rency of gold dust. An ounce of gold dust was practically worth $16, but the Oregon merchants would not take it for goods, for more than $11, while the Hudson's Bay Company having some coined money, was buying up gold dust at $10 an ounce and shipping it to the mint in London. This conditioH of affairs caused the circulation of a petition to the Oregon Provisional Government, set- ting forth that in consequence of the neglect of the United States Government, the people must combine against the greed of the merchants ; and the Provisional Government must at once set up an Oregon mint to coin the gold dust into legal tender money. It was represented as a basis of action that there was then in February, 1849, $2,000,000 worth of gold dust ready to be coined. That was about six times as much money per capita of the population as there is now, or ever has been since 1852. And prices of everything went up accordingly. Beef was ten to twelve cents a pound on the block; pork sixteen to twenty cents; butter sixty-two to seventy-five cents ; flour was $14 per barrel ; potatoes $2.50 a bushel, and apples $10.00 a bushel.
The petition for the mint was favorably considered by the Provisional Legis- lature, and a bill was passed to authorize it and to coin money. Two members of the legislature — Medorem Crawford and W. J. Martin — voted against the measure on the grounds that it was inexpedient and a violation of the constitution of the United States. The act provided for an assayer, melter and coiner and any alloy was forbidden in the money. Two pieces only were to be coined — one to weigh five pennyweights and one ten pennyweights, and both to be pure gold. The coins were to be stamped on one side with the Roman figure for the smaller coin, and the other with the figure ten on one side. And on the reverse sides the words "Oregon Territory" with the date of the j'ear aroiuid the face, with the arms of Oregon in the center. The officers of this mint were James Taylor, Director, Truman P. Powers, treasurer, W. H. Willson, melter and coiner, and George L. Curry, assayer. These officers, however, did not coin any money. And to supply that, a partnership was formed, called the "Oregon Exchange Company," which at once proceeded to coin gold on its own responsibility. The members of that company were : W. K. Kilborne, Theophilus Magruder, James Taylor, George Abernethy, W. H. Willson, W. H. Rector, John Gill Campbell and Noyes Smith. Rector made the stamps and dies, and acted as coiner. The engraving of the five dollar die was done by Hamilton Campbell, and the ten dollar die was engraved by Victor M. Wallace. The total coinage was $58,500 — $30,000 in five dollar pieces, and $28,500 in ten dollar pieces. The initials A. and W. standing for Abernethy and Willson, do not appear ​
on the ten dolhu- coin. This coinage i-aised the price of gold dust from twelve to sixteen dollars an ounce, and saved a vast amount of money to the honest miners. Engravings of the "Beaver Money," as this last coinage was called, are shown on another page.
The general effect of the wealth of gold brought back from California was beneficial to Oregon ; yet in all too many instances it proved the ruin of many men whose sudden rise to riches induced habits of profligacy and dissipation from wiiich they never recovered. Many men brought back as much as thirty or forty thousand dollars washed out of the California streams within a year or two ; and then threw it all away on idle dissipation, and had to start in again at the bottom of the ladder encumbei-cd with bad habits and remorseful regrets.
CONDITIONS OF THE COUNTRY IN 1848
Sixty-four years ago the great mass of the people of Oregon was located in the Willamette Valley. At that time Eastern Oregon was yet practically in pos- session of the Indians. The great donation claims of 640 acres each, had sub- stantially taken up all the open lands in Western Oregon. At that time the country and the farmers were every thing, and the towns amounted to little in wealth, population or political influence. The Methodist Mission people had been concentrated at Salem, and that village had become the centre of religious, if not political influence, and was then aspiring to become the seat of the pro- posed Territorial Government.
The farmers resided distant from each other and remote from the towns, and the social life was scarcely apparent. And yet all were bound together by a common tie and unwavering interest in a single hope and purpose. That was the universal desire of a Ten-itorial Government by the United States, and the passage of an act of congress recognizing and legalizing their donation land claims. And many a good Methodist could have paraphrased the old hymn to read:
' ' On Jordan 's stormy banks I stand And cast a wishful eye
To Willamette's fair and happy land Where my possessions lie. ' '
They little dreamed that so much wealth, prosperity and progress was so near at hand.
They had labored long and painfully to reach this promised laud; they had saved, and pinched and suffered to the extremity to make ends meet, and hoping and trusting the great government at the great city of Washington would hear and heed their far cry from the wilderness of Oregon for recognition and pro- tection. Their prayers and petitions had been heard ; but they knew it not. U. S. Government protection, and great wealth in gold had both been vouchsafed by a Providence the Oregonians did not hear of for six months after the fact. Con- gress passed the Act organizing Oregon Territory on Sunday morning. August 13, 1848, and Gov. Lane did not reach Oregon with his commission until March 2, 1849. Gold was discovered in California on January 19, 1848, but the Oregonians did not hear the great news until the July following; and before t ​he peo-
pie learned they had fmally recognized and given the protection of the United States, with the "Marion of the Mexican War" as governor, half of the able bodied men had rushed off to the gold mines of California.
As characteristic of the people and the times, the following lines contributed at that time to the "Oregon Spectator" by John Carey of Yamhill county, a pioneer of 1847, who wrote over the signature of "0. P. Q." is given here as veritable history:
Come hither, Muse, and tell the news.
Nor be thou a deceiver. But sing in plain poetic strains
The present "yellow fever".
And then I looked, and lo ! I saw
A Herald bright advancing — A being from some other clime
On golden pinions dancing.
And as he neared the mighty crowd
He made this proclamation In tones so clear, distinct and loud
It startled half the nation.
"Whj^ do you labor here," he cried,
"For merely life and pleasure. While just beyond that mountain gray
Lies wealth beyond all measure?
The road is plain, the way is smooth,
'Tis neither rough nor thorny; Come, leave this nigged vale and go
With me to California.
There wealth untold is bought and sold
And each may be partaker ! Where fifty tons of finest gold
Are dug from every acre ! ' '
At sound of gold both young and old
Forsook their occupation. And wild confusion seemed to rule
In every situation.
An old cordwainer heard the news,
And though not much elated. He left his pile of boots and shoes
And just evaporated. ​
The cooper left his tubs and pails,
His buckets and his piggins; The sailor left his j'ards and sails,
And started for the "diggins".
The farmer left his plough and steers.
The merchant left his measure. The tailor dropped his goose and shears
And went to gather treasure.
A pedagogue attired incog.
Gave ear to what was stated, Forsook his stool, bestrode a mule,
And then absquatulated.
A boatman, too, forsook his crew,
Let fall his oar and paddle, And stole his neighbor's iron-gray,
But went without a saddle.
The joiner dropped his square and jack,
The carpenter his chisel. The peddler laid aside his pack
And all prepared to mizzle.
The woodman dropped his trusty axe,
The tanner left his leather, The miller left his pile of sacks
And all went off together.
The doctor cocked his eye askance.
The promised wealth descrying. Then wheeled his horse and off he pranced
And left his patients dying.
The preacher dropped the Holy Book.
And gi-asped the mad illusion ; The herdsman left his flock and crook
Amid the wild confusion.
The judge consigned to cold neglect
The great judicial ermine, But just which way his honor went
I could not well determine.
And then I saw far in the rear
A fat, purse-proud attorney Collect his last retaining fee
And start upon his journey. ​
And when each brain in that vast train
Was perfectly inverted, My slumbers broke and I awoke
And foimd the place deserted.
Yamhill, November 10, 1848.
CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE.
The boundary question between England and the United States was settled in 1846: and that fact with the prospect of the donation land law passing congress produced the great immigration of 1847, the largest coming into Oregon in any one year from 1842 doAvn to the completion of transcontinental railroad. Every immigration to Oregon the plains across had been attended by much suffering and loss, and this year it was worse than ever before. The foremost companies on the trail exhausted the grass which compelled the later companies to halt to recruit their teams. And this delay brought them to Oregon late in the season and in a starving condition, which brought on much sickness. The great numbers of people and cattle also alarmed and angered the Indians who attacked the small companies at every opportunity from the Blue mountains to the Dalles, robbing the wagons and tearing the clothes off the women, leaving them naked in the wilderness, and committing other outrages. It would be in- teresting to give some account of all these pioneers; but that is impossible, for but few of them ever took any care to leave any record of their antecedents or lives. Mrs. Frances Puller Victor hunted up for Bancroft's History all that has been preserved of these brave pioneers, and which is given in the following note to this chapter, and which shows the character of the early settlers of Oregon.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES
Dr. Perry Prettyman was born March 20, 1796, in Newcastle Co., Del. He married Elizabeth H. Vessels, Dec. 25, 1825, and began the study of medicine in 1828, at the botanic medical school in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1839 he moved to Mo., and 7 years later to Oregon. He settled in 1849 on a farm near East Portland, where he remained till his death, March 27, 1872. Portland Advocate, April 4, 1872. Mrs. Prettyman died December 26, 1874, in the 71st year of her age. She was born in Lewiston, Del., in 1803. She was the mother of ten chil- dren, only four of whom survived her. Id., Jan. 7, 1875.
John Marks, born in Virginia, January 10, 1795, removed when a boy to Ky., and in 1818 married Panny Forrester, m 1838 moved to Johnson Co., Mo., and in 1847 to Oregon, and settling in Clackamas Co., where he resided until his death, January 5, 1874. He was a soldier of the War of 1812, and received in his declining years a pension from the government.
Thomas N. Aubrey was born in Va., in 1791, and moved westAvard with the ever-advancing line of the frontier until he settled on the shore of the Pacific. He was the oldest mason in Oregon, except Orrin Kellogg. Eugene City Guard, May 31, 1879.
Rev. William Robinson left Missouri in 1847. Mrs. Susannah Robinson, his wife, was born in Pa., in 1793 ; married in Ohio, and in 1833 removed to Indiana, thence to Platte Co., Mo., and finally to Polk Co., Oregon. She outlived ​her hus-
liaiid, dying at tlie home oL' lier daughter, Mrs. Cauuou, uear Cottage Crove in l-a,iie Co., Sept. 30, 1870. Portland Adv., October 15, 1870.
Mrs. Alice Claget Alosier, born in New York, May 31, 1794, removed with her parents to Indiana, where she married Daniel Hosier in 1830, with whom she came to Clackamas County, Oregon. She spent the last years of her life with her son Elias, her husband having died before her. Her death oceui-red July 2, 1870. Id., September 10, 1870.
Mrs. Pollj' Grimes Pattou was born September 23, 1810, in Fredei-ick Co., Md. She was the daughter of Joshua and Ellen Grimes, and removed with them to Adams Co., Ohio, where she was married to Matthew Patton in April, 1830, who soon after removed with her to La Fayette, Indiana, and in 1839 to Davis Co., Mo., whence they went to Oi-egon and settled" in Portland. She died January 7, 1868. Id., Jan. 11, 1868.
James Johnson was born April 4, 1809, in Tenn. He moved to Ohio in 1841, and thence to Oregon in 1847, settling in the Tualatin plains, and died August 20, 1870.
Mrs. Anna Clarke was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., February 26, 1823. At the age of 16 she married Jason S. Clark, with whom she came to Oregon. She was the mother of 7 children. In 1865 they removed to White River Valley, in Wash- ington, where Mrs. Clark died Ang 13, 1867. Id., Sept. 7, 1867.
Mrs. Susan Bowles White was born in Frederick Co., Md., Sept. 18, 1793. She was the daughter of Rev. Jacob Bowles of the Methodist church. She married Dr. Thomas White, and eventuallv settled at French Prairie, where she died August 13, 1867.
Chandler Cooper, born 1823, was a native of Vt, He moved with his parents- to Ind., when a boy, and at the age of 24 to Oregon. Settling in Yamhill, he mar- ried Alvira Frve, by whom he had 3 children. He died March 24, 1865, at his home in Yamhill. Id. April 29, 1865.
Peter SehoU was born in Clarke Co., Kj^, in 1809, when young went to 111., and thence to Oregon. He settled at Scholl's Ferry in Washington Co. He died November 23, 1872. Id., Nov. 28, 1872.
Elias Buell, born July 20, 1797, in the State of New York. At the age of If/ he removed with his parents to Ind., where he married Sarah Hammond, October 15, 1817. In 1835 he went west as far as Louisa Co., Iowa, where he resided until 1847, when he came to Oregon and settled in Polk Co., in the spring of 1848, where he lived until his death, November 14, 1871. Id. November 30, 1871.
Mrs. Emeline Buell Blair, wife of T. R. Blair, and daughter of Eliza Buell, was born in Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Feb. 29, 1829. She married Mr. Blair in Ore- gon in 1850 ; and died July 6, 1877, leaving several children. Id., August 9, 1877.
Mrs. ]\Iargaret McBride Woods, born May 27, 1809, in Tenn., was a daughter of Elder Thomas and Nancy McBride. The family removed to Missouri in 1816, where Margaret was married to Caleb Woods in 1828, and emigrated with him to Oregon in company with her brother, Dr. James McBride, and his family. The sons of this marriage were two, George Lemuel Woods, who was Governor of Oregon for one term, and James C. Woods, merchant. She died at her home in Polk Co., January 27, 1871. Caleb Woods has since resided at Columbia City on the Columbia river. Id., February 25, 1871.
Benjamin E. Stewart, youngest of 11 children, was born near Newark, Ohio, April 18, 1815. He wa.s apprenticed to a saddler and engaged in this business at Pindley, Hannock Co., where he married Ann Crumbacker, September 28, 1837. Before coming to Oregon he lived for several years in Putnam Co., Ohio. He settled finally in Yamhill Co., on a farm, where he died of injuries received by a fall, on the 18th of August, 1877, leaving a wife and three sons and three daugh- ters. Id. September 6, 1877.
Susanna T. Hurford wife of Joseph E. Hurford, born in Va., died at Port- land in the 58th year of her age, August 19, 1877. Id., August 23, 1877.
Joseph Jeffers was born in Wa.shington, D. C, October 17, 1807, rem ​Wheeling, Va., in 1825, and was married to Sarah Crawford of that place, No- vember 19, 1829. He moved to Burlington, Iowa, in 1837, where he became a licensed exhorter of the Methodist church. On going to Oregon he resided three years at Oregon City, after which he made Clatsop county his home. His family consisted of eleven children, only three of whom survived him. He died in Portland, January 2, 1876. Id. Jan. 27, 1876.
Mrs. Mary Watson, one of the ai-rivals in 1847, died at King's valley, Benton Co., February 11, 1873, aged 64 years. Id., Feb. 27, 1873.
Henry W. Davis, known as the Hillsboro hermit, was born in London, Eng., whence he emigrated to Canada, where he participated in the Patriot war of 1837-8, having commanded a gun in one of the battles, and is said to have been a Colonel. After the insurrection he fled to the United States to escape arrest. He was employed in a flouring mill at Cincinnati for some time, and when he went to Oregon took with him a set of mill-stones. He erected a flouring mill on Dairy creek near Hillsboro, Washington county, which was in operation for several years. Davis lived alone, dressed in rags, and avoided his fellowmen. He was once tried by a commission of lunacy, who decided him sane, but eccentric. He died alone in his cabin in the summer of 1878, leaving considerable real estate and several thousand dollars in money, which went to a nephew by the name of Tremble. Portland Bee, August 30, 1878.
J. H. Bellinger was born in the state of New York in 1791, served in the War of 1812, and built the flrst canal-boat for the Erie Canal. He settled in Marion county, and his family have been much noted in state politics. He died of pa- ralysis, November 13, 1878. Portland Bee, November 14, 1878 ; Corvallis Gazette, November 22, 1878. Jesse Monroe Hodges was born in Melbourne Co., S. C, December 18, 1788. In 1811 he married Catherine Stanley of N. C. He served in the war of 1812, and fought under General Jackson at Horse Shoe Bend. In 1817 he moved to Tenn., thence to Ind., and thence in 1839 to Mo., making his last remove to Oregon in 1847, and settling in Benton county. He died at the residence of his son, D. R. Hodges, March 28, 1877. His mental condition was sound up to his latest mo- ments, though over 88 years of age. Albany Democrat, April 6, 1877. J. H. Crain, born in Warren Co., Ohio, in 1831. He removed with his parents in 1837 to Fountain Co., Ind., and thence to Oregon. He remained in and about Portland till 1852, when he went to the mines of Southern Oregon finally settling in the Rogue River valley. He served as a volunteer in the Indian war of 1855-6, after which he married and followed the occupation of farming. In 1876 he still resided in Jackson county. Ashland Tidings, Oct. 14, 1876. John Baum, born in Richland county, Ohio, August 12, 1823, removed with his parents to Porter Co., Ind., in 1835, and came to Oregon when 24 yeai-s of age. He located at Salem, but the gold discovery of 1848 drew him to California. Here he mined for a few months, but finding his trade of carpentering more attractive, and also profitable, he followed it for a season. In 1850 he drifted back to Ore- gon from the Shasta mines, and in July, 1851, married Phoebe S. Tieters, who died in July, 1873, leaving eight living children, three of whom were sons, namely, James T., John N., and Edgar C, Sonoma Co., Hist., 631. Jonas Specht, another who went to the California mines, was born in Pa., and had lived in Ohio and Mo. He settled in California, to which state his biog- raphy properly belongs. See Sutter Co. Hist., 24, and Yuba Co. Hist., 36. Morgan Lewis Savage, was born in 1816; came to Oregon in 1847; died in Oregon, February 9, 1880. He was twice married, and left a widow and six chil- dren. "Lute" Savage, as he was familiarly called, was a favorite among the Pio- neers of the Pacific coast. He served in the Cayuse war in the battalion raised in the spring of 1848, and was elected to the Senate after Oregon became a State. As a citizen, soldier, legislator, husband, father, friend, he did his whole duty. Nesmith, in Ore. Pioneer Asso., Trans., 1879, 54-5.
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thence to Oregon in 1847. He conducted the first Episcopal services in Portland, and continued faithfully in his profession in that city till 1864, when he removed to Idaho to establish tlie church in that Territory. Pie never took part in politics or money speculations, but kept an eye single to the promotion of religion. Ilia first wife dying, he mairied a daughter of John B. Wands, of New Scotland, N. Y. In 1867, being on the steamer San Francisco bound east to meet his wife and child, he met his death about the 7th of Januaiy from unintermitting attention to othei-s on board suffering from an epidemic. S. F. Alta, Jan. 16, 1867; Blue Mountain Times, La Grande, Aug. 1, 1868.
Thomas Cox was by birth, a Virginian. When but a small child he removed with his parents to Ross Co., Ohio. In 1811 he married Martha Cox, who though of the same name was not a relative. He removed with his family of three chil- dren and their mother to Bartholomew Co., where he built the first grist and carding mills in that place. He afterward removed to the Wabash river country, and there also erected flour and carding mills at the mouth of the Shawnee river. He also manufactured guns and gun-powder, and carried on a general blacksmithiug business. In 1834 he made another move, this time to Illinois, where he settled in Will county, and laid out the town of Winchester, the name of which was afterward changed to Wilmington, and where he again erected mills for flouring and carding, and opened a general merchandise business. Dur- ing the period of land speculation and "wild-cat" banks. Cox resisted the gamb- ling spirit, and managed to save his property, while others were ruined. In 1846 he made preparations for emigration to Oregon, in company with his married son, Joseph, and two sons-in-law, Elias Brown and Peter PoUey. Elias Brown, father of J. Henry Brown, died on the way ; and Mr. Cox in company with Damascus Brown, as before related, brought the family through to Salem, where he set up a store, with goods he had brought across the plains and mountains to Oregon. He purchased the land claim of Walter Helm and placed upon it Mr. Policy. When gold was di-scovered in California, his sou William went to the mines, and being successful, purchased a. large stock of goods in San Francisco, returned with them to Salem, where his father retired from the mercantile business, leaving it in the hands of William and Mr. Turner Crump. Thomas Cox then engaged in farming, raising choice fruits from seeds which he imported in 1847. The fruit business proved remunerative. Cox's first apples selling readily at $6.00 a bushel, and peaches at $10 and $12. Mr. Cox died at Salem, October 3, 1862, having always possessed the esteem of those who knew him. Or. Literary Vidette April, 1879.
Joseph Cox, son of Thomas Cox, was born in Ohio in 1811, and removed with his parents to Indiana, where, in 1832 he married, and two years afterward went to 111., settling in Wilmington, whence he removed to St. Joseph, Missouri, and remained there till 1847, when he joined the emigration to Oregon. He was a member of the convention that framed the present State constitution. Without being a public speaker, he wielded considerable influence. Of an upright nature and practical judgment, his opinions were generally accepted as sound. A good man in any community, Oregon was the gainer by his becoming a citizen. He died in 1876. Or. Pioneer Asso. Trans., 1876-67. Thomas H. Cox, born in Wilming- ton, Illinois, was a son of Joseph Cox. He died at Salem of paralysis of the heart, Sept. 25, 1878. Salem Statesman, Sept. 25, 1878.
Albert Briggs, a native of Vermont, with a number of others joined a com- pany of 115 wagons at St. Joseph, Mo., commanded by Lot Whitcomb. He ar- rived at Portland, October 14th, and went to Oregon City, where he remained till 1852, when he removed to Port Townsend. Further mention of Mr. Briggs will be found in the history of Washington.
Aaron Payne was a pioneer of Putnam County, Illinois. He was elected first coroner, then county commissioner, and afterward delegate to the state convention which was held at Rushville, Schuyler county. He was a ranger under General Harrison, was also in the Black Hawk war of 1812, and was severely wounded at ​
the battle of Bad Axe. At the age of 73, when the country was under the excite- ment of war, he longed to take up arms for the flag. He came to Oregon in 1847, and settled in Yamhill county. Oregon Argus, March 28, 1863.
John C. Holgate was identified with the early histories of Oregon, Washing- ton and Idaho. He was killed in a mining difficulty at Owyhee in March, 1868. Sacramento Reporter, April 10, 1868.
John F. Farley came to California in 1846-7 with the New York volunteers. While in California he belonged to the Veteran Association, soldiers of the Mexi- can war. He was one of the original members of the Washington Guard of Port- land, in which place he died, February 16, 1869. Portland Oregonian, February 18, 1869.
Dr. James McBride, Tennessean by birth but brought up in Missouri, was a leading man in his community both in Slissouri and Oregon. A friend of Senator Linn, he discussed with him the features of his famous bill of 1841-2, and early took an interest in Oregon matters. He emigrated with his family to the new west in 1846, and settled in Yamhill county where for many years he lived, a useful and honorable citizen. He was the friend of education and temperance. Early in the history of the Territorial Government he was elected to the council ; and in the political excitement of the civil war of 1861-5, was an ardent supporter of the administration. In 1863, while his eldest son, John R. McBride, was in Congress, Dr. McBride received the appointment of U. S. Commissioner to the Sandwich Islands, which position he held for several years. He died at St. Helens, Oregon, in December, 1875, aged 73, leaving a numerous family of useful and respected sons and daughters. Portland Oregonian, December 25, 1875. His wife, Mahala, a woman of marked talent, survived him 2 years, dying February 23, 1877, at St. Helens. Olympia Transcript, March 3, 1877.
Jeremiah Ralston in 1847 removed from Tennessee, where he was born in 1798. He laid out the town of Lebanon, Marion county, on his land claim. He died August, 1877, leaving a large property, a wife and seven children, namely, Joseph Ralston, Tacoma ; William Ralston, Albany, Ore. ; Charles and John Ralston, Lebanon ; Mrs. Moist, Albany ; Mrs. D. C. Rowland, Salem, Ore. ; and Mrs. John Hamilton, Corvallis, Ore. Seattle Tribune, August 17, 1877.
Luther Collins came to Oregon in 1847, residing there until 1850, when he went to Puget Sound, and was the first to take up a claim in what is now King county. He was drowned in the upper Columbia in 1852. His widow, a native of New York, died in July, 1876, leaving two children, Stephen Collins, and Mrs. Lucinda Pares. Seattle Intelligencer, July 8, 1876.
Andrew J. Simmons arrived in Oregon in 1847, and settled in Cowlitz prairie. He died February 12, 1872, in Lewis county, of which he was sheriff, at the age of 45. Seattle Intelligencer, February 26, 1872; Olympia Standard, March 2, 1872.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett located in 1847 near Newberg in Yamhill count}', where they permanently settled. They were both born in England, in 1792, on the 8th of March, being of equal age. They reared a large family, most of whom mar- ried and had also large families, nearly all living on the same section of land. Olympia Courier, August 9, 1873.
Mrs. Agnes Tallentine, mother of Mr. Thomas Tallentine, died at Olympia, April 13, 1876. She was born at Harrisburg, Pa., in 1820, crossed the plains in 1847, and settled in the Puget Sound coimtry in 1851. She left two children, a son and a daughter. Olympia Transcript, April 15, 1876.
Samuel Fackler, a native of Maryland, in 1847, came from Illinois to Oregon, and died at Bethany, Marion county, February 22, 1867, aged 81 years. Salem American Unionist, March 11, 1867.
John David Crawford, born in Omondago Co., N. Y., August 16, 1824, was by trade a printer ; thence he came to Milan, Ohio, where he studied law ; but re- peated solicitations from his brother, Medorem Crawford, finally induced him to come to Oregon in 1847. In the Cayuse war he was appointed in the commis​sary department under General Palmer. When George L. Curry established the Free Press, Crawford was for a time employed upon that paper as printer; but when the California gold excitement came, he joined the exodus to the mines, returning soon to Oregon with some of the precious metals, with which he purchased in 1851 a half-ownership in the Hoosier, the first steamboat that ran on the Willamette River, between Oregon City, Portland, Vancouver and Salem. In 1852 he went into mercantile business with Robert Newell in Champoeg, where he continued to reside till the flood of 1862 swept the town away. Mr. Crawford was a member of the State legislature in 1872. He was a Mason, a member of the State grange, and of the Oregon Pioneer Association. He died in Clackamas county in the summer of 1877. Oregon Pioneer Association Trans., 1877, 66-7.
Walter Monteith with his brother, Thomas Monteith, came to Oregon in 1847. They were natives of Fulton county, New York, but when little more than 20 removed to Wilmington. Illinois, emigrating from that place to Oregon. The brothers purchased and settled upon that section of land where the town of Albany now stands, and laid it out in town lots in 1848. The result was an abundant return upon their investments. Like many others, they visited the California gold mines, and returned with some money which assisted them in starting in business. The first house in Albany, the finest residence in Oregon, was built by the brothers at the corner of Washington and Second streets. In 1850 they organized a company of which they were the principal members, and erected the Magnolia Mills, uciir the mouth of the Calapooya creek, and have always been most active in all enterprises which have contributed to the prosperity of Albany. Walter Monteith died June 11, 1876. He had married in 1858, Margaret Smith. Three sons were the fruit of this union. State Rights Democrat, June 16 and 23, 1876.
Henry Warren was one of the young men who came from Missouri to Oregon to help build the State. He had not been long married, and brought a wife and babe to the new land. The young people settled in Yamhill County, where they remained for several years, until Mr. Warren was appointed receiver of the land-office at Oregon City. His eldest son, Charles E. Warren, was carefully educated and studied law, in which profession he graduated with credit. When about 26 he married a daughter of Dr. Henry Saffarans, of Oregon City; but in his 28th year died, much lamented, disappointing the hopes of his family and the community. Salem Mercury, April 3, 1874.
Mrs. Jane L. Waller, born in Fayette county, Kentucky, in 1792, was married to Thomas C. Waller in 1815, and went with him to Illinois, where he died leaving her with a famil.y of several young children, whom she reared and educated, and with whom she removed to Oregon, settling in Polk county, in 1847. She lived a useful life, respected by all, and died full of years and honor Nov. 23, 1869, being 77 years old on the day of her death. Dallas Times, Dec. 4, 1869.
James Davidson was born in Barren county. Ivy., Aug. 30, 1792. Like most western men of his time, he was self-educated, but his talents being above the average, he became a leader among his fellows. When a youth he took part in the war of 1812, and was in the battle of the Thames, where Tecumseh was killed. He married in 1817, and lived at Nashville, Tennessee, from 1823 to 1829, at St. Louis in 1830. and in Greene county, Illinois, from 1831 to 1836. He then re- moved to the Black Hawk purchase, Iowa, and lived in Burlington until 1847, when he came to Oregon, and settled in Salem. Mr. Davidson has represented his county in the legislature, and in all respects enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his neighbors. Nine children blessed the union. Plis sons, Albert and Thomas, were among the most enterprising agriculturists in Oregon. Albert, the elder, first came to Oregon in 1845, and returning, induced the family, and many others, to return with him. They took the southern route. Salem Record, Aug. 29, 1874. Salem Statesman, Oct. 13. 1876.
Nebuxardan Coffey, born in North Carolina in 1790, moved to Kentucky, ​
where in 1810 he married Miss Easley, 14 days older than himself. He removed to Illinois in 1831, and came to Oregon in 1847. He died at his home in Marion county on the 20th of January, 1867, leaving his wife, who with him had borne the vicissitudes of 57 years on the frontier. Salem Unionist, Feb. 11, 1867.
Samuel Headrick, born in Pettis Co., Mo., November 13, 1836, came to Oregon with his father when a boy. Like most boys who crossed the plains, he early learned self-reliance. In Marion county where he resided, Headrick was esteemed the soul of honor and the defender of the right. He was four years sheriff of his county and two years treasurer just previous to his death, which occurred March 26, 1869. Salem Unionist, March 27, 1869.
Dr. John P. Poujade died at his residence at Gervais in July, 1875. fie was born in France in 1790, and was a surgeon in the army of Napoleon, 1812. He came to Oregon in 1847. His son, T. C. Poujade, resided in Salem. Salem Record, July 9, 1875.
Robert Crouch Kinney was born July 4, 1813, in St. Clair Co., 111. At 20 years of age he married Eliza Bigelow, and shortly afterward removed to Muscatine, Iowa, of which city he was one of the principal founders. Engaging in milling business, he remained 15 years at IMuscatine, when the tide of Oregon emigration bore him to the shore of the Pacific. Settling in Yamhill county, he farmed for ten years, save a short interval when he was absent at the gold mines of Cali- fornia. He served in the territorial legislature and was a member of the state constitutional convention. After 1857 he returned to his old business of milling, and with his sons, owned large flouring mills at Salem, where he died March 2nd, 1875. Mr. Kinney had eight children. Mrs. Mary Jane Kinney Smith, wife of J. H. Smith, of Harrisburg in Lane County, was born December 16, 1839, at Muscatine. Albert William Kinney who married Virginia Newby, daughter of W. T. Newby, was born at Muscatine, October 3rd, 1843, and resided at Salem. Augustus Crouch Kinney who married Jane Welch, was born July 26, 1845, at Muscatine ; studied medicine and lived at Astoria. Marshall John Kinney, bom at Muscatine, Januarj^ 31, 1847, resided in San Francisco. Alfred Coleman Kin- ney, born in the Chehalem Valley, Yamhill county, January 30, 1850, graduated at Bellevue Medical College, New York; residence, Astoria. Josephine Elarena Kinney Walker, wife of Jas. S. Walker of San Francisco, was born January 14, 1852, in the Chehalem Valley. Wm. Sylvester and Eliza Lee Kinney were born at Chehalem in 1854 and 1858. Robert C. Kinney a son of Samuel Kinney, who in 1800 settled on Horse Prairie, west of the Kaskaskia river, Illinois, and- Samuel Kinney a son of Joseph Kinney who in 1799 resided near Louisville, Ky., and had a family of seven sons and four daughters. One of his sons, William, drove the first wagon over the road from the Ohio river to the new home of the family in Illinois, of which State he was afterward Lieutenant-Governor. Robert had a brother named Samuel who settled in West Chehalem, and who died October 20, 1875. His other brothers and sisters remained in the States. Salem Farmer, March 12, 1875; Oregon Statesman, March 6, 1875; Salem Mercury, March 5, 1875.
Robert Cowan, a native of Scotland, emigrated from Slissouri, where he mar- ried, and joined the Oregon companies of 1847. In the following year he settled in the Umpqua valley, Y^oncalla precinct, and with the exception of Levi Scott and sons, was the first white settler in Douglas county. His cabin stood near the old tra:il which the pioneer goldseekers of 1848 and 1849 traveled, and is remem- bered by many as the last mark of civilization north of the Sacramento valley. He was killed by a splinter from a tree which he was felling March 9th, 1865. Or. Statesman. March 20, 1865.
Samuel Allen settled on the Abiqua, in Marion county.
Joseph Hunsaker settled 10 miles south of Salem.
J. H. Pruett resided at McMinnville in Yamhill county.
Jacob Comegys, of Hagerstown, Md., born 1798, came to Oregon in 1847 ; re- moved to San .Jose, California, in 1856 where he died i ​n 1870.
Charles Sauljoni was ili'owiied iu the WiUaiuetle river near Eugene City, October, 1875.
John F. Tayhir never had a home, but lived among the old settlers, dying at tlie age of 7b, and buried at public charge, an exception generally in his habits to his old companions.
Samuel Whitley, resided on the southern border of Marion county — a native of Virginia — and died September, 1868, age 80 yeai-s.
William S. Barker, a cabinetmaker, settled at Salem, where he died July 2, 1869, having been a respected citizen of Oregon tor 22 years.
William Whitney, a native of Stately, Huntingdonshire, England, born iu 1808, at the age of 19 married Elizabeth Taylor, of Bourne, Lincolnshire, and moved to the United States iu 1832. Their iirst residence was in Pennsylvania; and from there they removed to Indiana, and in 1847 joined the emigi-ation to Oregon, having at this time a family of six children. AVhitney settled in Marion county, and in 1848 went to the California mines and met with good success. He died at Butteville, June 1st, 1878, three years after his wife, who died April 4, 1875.
Rev. P. J. McCormick, who came to Oregon in the ship L'Etoile du Matin, be- fore mentioned, was a man of very plain parts, and of an Irish family of not the very best blood. On ai-riving at Oregon City, he was stationed there for some time, where he was compelled to perform every menial service, even to washing his linen, though a man of accomplishments. Falling ill from this cheerless way of living, he was ordei'ed to the uplands of Chile, where he resided twenty years ; thence returning to Oregon, he resided there until his death in 1874, w-ell known for his talents and virtues. Portland Bulletin, December 14, 1874.
William McKinney w'as born in Howard county, Missouri, August 20, 1820. In April, 1847, he married Matilda Darby, and started with the immigrations for Oregon, settling in Marion county. He died October 20, 1875. leaving a family of eleven children to whose welfare he was truly devoted. In losing him the community lost a good citizen. Portland Oregonian, November 6, 1875.
James Pulton, born at Paoli, Orange county, Indiana, in 1816, emigrated to Missouri in 1840, and to Oregon in 1847. His father laid out the town of Paoli, and with Blackstone, Hallowell, Lindley, and Hopper, built the half-moon fort at that place in General Harrison's campaign. Settled in Yamhill county where he remained for ten years, when he removed to Wasco county, where he died in 1896. He saw service in the Yakima Indian war of 1855-56. A number of his ancestors served in the Revolutionary war. He sensed one term in the legislature.
Ephraim Adams, born in New Jersey in 1799, removed in 1835 to Ohio, in 1839 to Missouri, and thence to Oregon with his family. Located in Yamhill county, he spent the remainder of a long life in Oregon, dying January 15, 1876, at McMinnville, respected and regretted by his acquaintances of twenty-nine years. Oregon Statesman, Jan. 22, 1876.
H. L. Aikin, born in England in 1818, emigrated with his parents to the United States in his childhood. At the age of 29 he left Illinois, where his father was settled, to go to Oregon. He chose a residence in Clatsop county, where he lived a man of note in his community, dying at Astoria in April, 1875, leaving three immediate descendants, a son and two daughters, his wife having died be- fore him. Portland Oregonian, April 24, 1875; Oregon City Enterprise, April 23, 1875.
Isaac W. Bewley, began the westward movement by leaving Indiana for Mis- souri in 1837, and thence on to Oregon. He is the brother of John W. Bewley of La Fayette, Indiana, and of Rev. Anthony Bewley. who w'as hanged by a southern mob in Texas, at the breaking out of the rebellion, for his fearless advocacy of human rights. Mr. I. W. Bewley settled on a farm in Tillamook county, Oregon, about as near sunset as any spot in the United States. Lafayette (Ind.) Bee, in Portland Oregonian, Oct. 31
​Tollman H. Rolfe, a printer, joined the Oregon immigration of 1847, but proceeded in the spring of 1848 to California, where he was engaged on the Star. Tuthill's History of California, 215. He was elected alcalde of Yuba county, and afterward in 1853, went to Nevada City where he was employed on the Journal, and afterward started the Nevada Democrat, which he edited in company with his brother, I. J. Rolfe. When Austin was founded, Rolfe went to that place, and for a time edited the Reveille, but returned to Nevada City and edited the Gazette. He several times filled the office of city trustee, and about 1870 was elected justice of the peace, which office he held until failing health drove him to San Bernardino, where he died in 1872.
William Allphin, a native of Kentucky, was born November 17, 1777. On becoming of age, he removed to Indiana, settled at Indianapolis, and engaged in the manufacture of brick, furnished the material for the walls of the state- house in that city. In 1837 he removed to Illinois, and 10 years later to Oregon, where he located in Linn county, eight miles east of Albany. He was twice a member of the territorial legislature and held several other offices to which he was elected by the people. He died October, 1876, within 13 months of the age of 100 years, leaving a memory revered. Corvallis Gazette, October 13, 1876; Albany Reporter, December 11, 1876 ; Salem Statesman, October, 13, 1876.
A. N. Locke, born in Virginia in 1810, moved to Mo., in 1820, and to Oregon in 1847. He was among the late arrivals of that year, having, "suffered incredible hardships." He settled in Benton county a few miles north of Corvallis, He was several times sheriff: and county judge, filling these positions in an honorable manner, and enjoying the confidence and esteem of the country he served. He lived there for many years and raised a large and interesting family. He died on the 14th of October, 1872. Corvallis Gazette, October 18, 1872.
Robert Houston, born in Madison county, Kentucky, February, 1793, removed to Shelby county, Ohio, in 1805, and resided there until 1847. In 1827 he married Miss Mary Brown, having by her six children. While residing in Ohio, he served as associate justice for seven years, and filled other stations of trust with credit. On reaching Oregon in September, 1847, he selected a farm in Linn county, where he resided till his death in September, 1876, surrounded by his children and grandchildren, and esteemed by them all. He lived long in the enjoyment of the simple pleasures of country life, as he had desired. Albany State Rights Democrat, September 15, 1876.
Leander C. Burkhart was born in Hawkins county, East Tennessee, November, 14, 1823. Emigrating to Oregon in 1847; he settled in Linn county, in company with his father and a numerous relationship, amassing a large fortune without losing his high reputation for integrity, being possessed of a sterling worth acknowledged by all men. He died at his residence half a mile east of Albany, November 3, 1875.
Samuel Laughlin was born in South Carolina in 1791, removed to Missouri in 1823, where he resided until 1847, being twice married, and having seven children by each wife, an equal number of boys and girls.
Mrs. Asenath M. Luelling Bozarth, daughter of Henderson Luelling, came with her parents to Oregon from Indiana in 1847. She was the mother of 11 children, four sons and seven daughters, ten of whom survived her. She died at the home of her husband. John S. Bozarth, on Lewis River, Cowlitz county, where she had resided 22 years, on the 30th of November, 1874, aged 40 years. Vancouver Register, December 25, 1874.
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THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON a-19
was the mother of 4 sons and 3 daughters. I'ortlaiid Oregonian, J)eceniher 13, 1879.
Hugh Harrison was boru in Harrison county, Ivy., whieh county was named after his grandfather. He was for several years in the Rocky Mountains with Kit Carson, but settled in Soutii Salem in 1847, where he died at the age of 76 years, May 27, 1877. Portland Standard, June 1, 1877.
Joseph Merrill, boi'n in Ross county, Ohio, November 15, 1818, removed with his parents to Illinois, at the age of 10 years, returned to Ohio when he attained his majority, and married the next year a Miss Freeman, of Chillicothe, the ceremony being performed by Justice of the Peace Thurston, afterward U. S. Senator from Ohio. Jlerrill subsequently returned to Illinois, where he resided until 1847. In the spring of 1848 he settled in Columbia county, Oregon. He died at his home. May 6, 1879, regretted by the community in which he lived. Portland Standard, May, 13, 1879.
Mrs. John Fisher lost her husband at the crossing of the Platte river, June 6, 1847 ; and on Snake river she buried her little girl 2 years of age. She arrived late in tiie autumn at Tualatin Plains, where during the winter she met W. A. Mills, who had arrived in 1843. He proposed marriage and they were united in 1848, continuing to reside near Hillsboro. Mrs. Mills had five children, two sons and three daughters. She was born in Wayne county, Ind., April 20, 1822, and died December 11, 1869. Salem Farmer," March 26, 1870. William Glover settled in Marion county. Mrs. Jane Jett Graves Glover was born in Pittsylvania Co., Va., in 1827, removed with her parents to Missouri in 1830, and was married to William Glover in 1843, with whom she came to Oregon in 1847. She died December 31, 1876. Id., Jan. 12, 1877.
Leander L. Davis was bom in Belmont Co., Ohio, and crossed the plains in 1847, settling in Marion Co. He served in the State legislature in 1866. He died June 29, 1874, at Silverton, aged 48 years. Id., July 4, 1874.
Mrs. Olive Warren Chamberlain was born in Covington, New York, Feb- ruary 12, 1822. While she was a child, her father, an itinei-ant Methodist preacher, removed with her to Michigan, where in 1843 she married Joseph Chamberlain, and came to Oregon. She was the mother of ten children, eight of whom survive her. She died October 27, 1874, at Salem. Salem, Or., States- man, November 7, 1874.
Mrs. R. A. Ford, who settled with her husband in Marion county in 1847, after becoming a widow, studied medicine, and practiced in Salem, educating a son for the profession. She died in March, 1880, in the city of Portland. Portland Standard, April 2, 1880.
William H. Dillon was a native of Kent Co. Del., from which he removed ^^•hen a child, to the Scioto valle.y in Ohio. When a young man he removed again to Indiana, and thence to Oregon. Dillon lived one .year on Sauvie's Island, when he went to the California gold mines, returning in a few months with a competency, and settling near Vancouver.
Samuel T McKean was from Delaware county, New York, where he mar- ried Polly Hicks, in 1817, and removed to Richmond, Ohio, from which place many years later he again removed to Illinois, where he founded the town of Chillicothe, naming it after the old Indian village of that name in Ohio. When he came to Oregon he had a family of six children. In the autumn they removed to San Jose, California. During his residence in Oregon, McKean held several places of trust and honor, as member of the legislative assembly, clerk of the district court of Clatsop county, and afterward as county judge, and president of the board of trustees of the town of Astoria. He died at San Jose, in 1873, and his wife followed him in 1877, leaving many descendants. San Jose Pioneer, April 28, 1877.
George La Rocque, a native of Canada, was born near Montreal in 1820. At the age of 16 he entered the United States and like most Canadians, soon sought employment of the fur companies. Being energetic and intel ​ligent.
he became useful to the American Fur Company, with whom he remained eight years, finally leaving the service and settling in Oregon near his former friend, F. X. Matthieu, on French Prairie. When the gold discoveries at- tracted nearlj^ the whole adult male population of Oregon, to California, he joined in the exodus, returning soon with $12,000. This capital invested in business at Butteville and Oregon City, made him a fortune. He died at Oakland, California, Feb. 2-3, 1877. Oregon City Enterprise, March 8, 1877.
Ashbel Merrill died at Fort Hall, his wife, Mrs. Susannah Sigler Merrill, and children pursuing their way to Oregon. Mrs. Merrill was born in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, March 20, 1800. She was married to Ashbel Merrill April 23, 1823, in Ross county, Ohio, and moved to Illinois, and thence in 1847 to Oregon. Their children were, William, George, Mary A. Emert, Lyman, Electa, Alvin and Lyda. Six of these resided in Oregon chiefly in Columbia county, and had numerous families. Mrs. Merrill has celebrated her 82nd birthday. St. Helen Columbian, March 31, 1881.
Joseph Carey Geer, went from Windom, Conn., to Ohio in 1816. The family removed to 111., and from there to Oregon. The founder of the Oregon family of Geer was born in 1795. He settled in Yamhill county, in 1847, and in the number of his descendants has outdone the Canadians, there being of his line 164 on the Pacific coast; all honorable men and virtuous women, be- sides being physically people of weight. Portland West Shore, February, 1880.
Ralph C. Geer, was the pioneer nurseryman of Marion county. He also taught the first public school in the section where he settled, having 30 pupils in 1848, all but four of whom were living 30 j'ears afterward — a proof that the climate had nothing to do with the fatal character of the diseases which carried off the natives in early times. Geer planted apple and pear seeds to start his nursery in the red soil of the Waldo Hills, which he found to be excellent for his purpose. His father also put an eqiial amount of apple and pear seeds in the black soil of the Clackamas bottoms, but was disappointed in the returns, which were not equal to the Waldo Hills, where R. C. Geer has had a fruit farm and nursery for more than 30 yeai-s.
John Wilson drove to the Willamette valley a number of choice Durham cattle, from Henry Clay's herd, at Blue Grass Grove, 111., and also some fine horses, greatly to the improvement of the stock in the valley. J. C. Geer also drove a fine cow from this herd.
Stephen Bonser, who settled on Sauvie's Island, drove a herd of choice cattle, which improved the stock on the Columbia River bottoms.
Luther Savage took to the Willamette Valley a blood race-horse called George, whose descendants are numerous and valuable.
Hugh Fields drove a flock of fine sheep from Missouri in 1845 which he took to the Waldo Hills. Before getting settled he and his wife both died under a large fir-tree, with the measles. The sheep were sold at auction in small lots, and being superior, the Fields sheep are still a favorite breed in Oregon. Headrick, Turpin, and Mulkey took a flock of fine sheep. Turpin's were Sax- ony. This lot stocked Howell Prairie. R. Patton took a large flock to Yamhill county.
Mr. Haun of Haun's Mills, Mo., carried a pair of mill buhr-stones across the plains to Oregon.
A. R. Dimiek carried the seeds of the "early," or "shaker blue" potatoes from Mich., planting them on his farms in the north part of iMarion Co. From these seeds sprung the famous Dimiek potato, the best raised in Oregon in early days.
Mr. Watson of King's Valley, Benton Co., drove some short-horn stock to Oregon. The above notes are taken from Geer's Blooded Cattle, MS., a a valuable contribution on the origin of stock in the Willamette Valley. See ​
THE CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF OREGON n->l
also his address before the Pioneer associatioi for 1879, on the iminij^ration of 1847; see also Salem Or. Statesman, June 20, 1879.
John E. Ross was born in Madison connty, Oliio, February 15. 1818. Emi- grated with his parents to Ind., when 10 years of age, and to 111., when 16 years old. At the age of 29 he started for Oregon, and was captain of his ti-ain of forty wagons. In the Cayuse war which broke out soon after he arrived in Oregon, he served a.s lieutenant and captain. He resided for some time at Oregon City, engaged in various pursuits. When gold was discovered in Cal- ifornia he went to the Feather River mines, and in 1850, after having returned to Oregon, explored in the southern valleys and in northern California for gold, discovering several rich places, known as Yankee Jim's, Wambo Bar, Jack- sonville, etc. For a number of years he was almost constantly engaged in mining or selling supplies to miners ; and in 1852 again commanded a company who went out to fight the Indians on the southern route. In the winter of 1852-3 he was married to Elizalieth Hopewood, of Jacksonville, their 's being the first wedding solemnized in that place. They have nine children, five girls and four boys. When the Rogue River war broke out, in 185;}, Ross was elected colonel, and again in 1855 was elected colonel of the 9th regiment and commissioned by Governor Davis. He was a member of the territorial council in the same year; and in 1866 was elected to the state legislature. When the I\Iodoc war broke out, in 1872, he was commissioned by Governor Grover as brigadier-general in com- mand of the State troops. In 1878 he was a member of the senate from the county of Jackson, where he has resided for many years. The Salem States- man, in remarking upon the personal appearance of Ross, describes him as having a well-shaped head, pleasant face and a reserved but agreeable manner. Ashland Tidings, December 13, 1878.
Ahio S. Watt was born in Knox Co., Ohio, Jan. 15, 1824 ; went to Mo., in 1838, and to Oregon in 1848. He was married in 1850 to Mary E. Elder, and settled in Yamhill county. He was a member of the senate in 1878 ; has been clerk of the court, surveyor, and farmer, and a useful and honorable citizen.
E. L. Massey, well known in Oregon, at the breaking out of the mining excitement of 1861, removed to Walla Walla, where he was justice of the peace. In 1867 while traveling in Idaho he had his feet frozen, from the effects of which he died in August of that year. Walla Walla Statesman, August 30, 1867.
Burrell B. Griiifin settled in Linn county, where he discovered in 1851 a moun- tain of bluish gray marl near the junction of Crabtree and Thomas forks of the Santiam. The stone was easily worked, and hardened on exposure to the air, and came to be much used in place of brick for hearthstones and chimney pieces. In 1852 Mr. Griffin removed to the Rogue River valley, where he dis- covered in 1875 valuable ores of cinnabar and antimony near Jacksonville. Oregonian, September 25, 1875.
George A. Barnes, a native of Lockport, Monroe county, New York, first emigrated to Fort Wayne, Indiana, and from there to Oregon in 1848. He went to the gold mines in California in 1849, returned to Fort Wayne via the Isthmus that winter, and in the spring of 1850 started across the plains to Oregon with his family, locating in Portland. He was active in aiding to secure the passage of an act incorporating Portland as a city in January, 1851, and at the first city election. April 7, 1851. was elected a member of the council. In the spring of 1852 he removed to Puget Sound, with the history of which he has since been identified.
David Stone who was captain of the company with which Barnes traveled, settled in the Cowlitz Valley, a few miles north of the Columbia.
Thomas W. Avery emigrated to Oregon with his parents at the age of 15, and in 1849 went to the gold mines in Ca lifornia from which he returned in 1857, when he settled in Douglas county. Working as a carpenter and teach- ing a country school, he continued to reside in the Umpqua valley unti ​l 1862,
when he went to Salem to study law iu the office of Bonliam and Curl. He was elected to the democratic state convention in 1864, and commenced the practice of law in Umatilla county, and was in the legislature in 1866. In connection with J. C. Dow, he established the Columbia Press, the tirst newspaper at Uma- tilla. He died of consumption in Salem in the autumn of 1867. Salem Capital Chronicle, December 14, 1867.
Airs. Susan Sturges, born in Illinois, May 14, 1839, married Andrew Sturges in Oregon in 1855, and died at Vancouver in Washington Territory, April 28, 1876, her husband and 6 children surviving. Portland Advocate, May 11, 1876.
Mrs. Jacob Conser, born in Richmond county, Ohio, July 31, 1822, removed with her parents to Illinois, where she was married February 28, 1839, and emi- grated to Oregon with her husband in 1848. She died at Walla Walla while on a visit to a sister residing there, April 18, 1879. San Jose Pioneer, May 10, 1879.
Nathaniel Hamlin, an immigrant of 1848, died in June 1866. Seattle Weekly, June 18, 1866.
Rev. Clinton Kelly Avas born in Pulaski county, Ky., June 15, 1808. He joined the Methodist church at the age of 19, and devoted his life to preacliing. Before he was 20 he married Mary Baston, who died in 1837, leaving him five children. He married in the following year Jane Burns, who also died leaving one child. He then married Maria Grain by whom he had nine children. Being opposed to the institution of slaverj^ he determined to emigrate to a country where his numerous family could be educated to become useful citizens, and chose Oregon for his home, where he was widely known as "Father Kelly" and as a never tiring advocate of temperance. He died at his residence near East Port-, land, June 19, 1875, leaving an honorable memory. Oregonian, June 19, 1875 ; Oregon City Enterprise, June 25, 1875 ; Portland Temperance Star, June 25, 1875 ; Salem Statesman, June 26, 1875.
W. W. Bristow, son of Elijah Bristow, who emigrated in 1846, with his brother, E. L. Bristow, and other members of the family, followed his father in 1848, and all settled in Lane county, then the southern part of Linn. Mr. Bristow was one of the foremost citizens of that part of the country; was a member of the first state senate, and of the state constitutional convention, and active in securing the location of the state universitj' at Eugene City. In his family he was as gentle as he was enterprising in affairs of public interest. He died at Eugene City, December 10, 1874. Eugene City Guard, December 1874; Roseburg Plaindealer, December 12, 1874.
J. M. Hendricks, brother-in-law of W. W. and E. L. Bristow, also settled at Pleasant Hill, in Lane county, where he died in the spring of 1878. His son, T. G. Hendricks, is a prominent merchant of Eugene City. San Jose Pioneer, April 6, 1878.
Nicholas Lee was born in Pike county, Ohio, February 11, 1818. On coming to Oregon he settled in Polk county, near Dallas. He engaged in merchandis- ing in 1862, but retired to give place to his son, Joseph D. Lee, in 1876. His death occurred July 11, 1879, at the farm where he settled in 1848. Dallas Itemizer, July 18, 1879.
Prances Ella Reynolds, born in Tenn., in 1815, emigrated to Orgeon in 1848, and resided with her sister, Mrs. Wells, at the time of her death on the 25th of November, 1879. Portland Advocate, December 4, 1879.
William Porter of Aumsville, Marion county, had never been farther away from his home than Oregon City, in his 27 years' residence in Oregon, until summoned to Portland by the U. S. district court, to appear as a juror. He has contributed pleasing articles to the columns of the Parmer, but the journey across the plains satisfied completely his love of travel. Salem Parmer, June 25, 1875.
John L. Hicklin, born in Kentucky, June, 1793, first removed to Indiana and finally settled in Washington county, Tualatin Plains, Oregon, iu 1848, ​where he continued to reside surrounded by a large family. He died October 14, 1876, after a long and exemplary life. Portland Standard, October 27, 1876.
David Linenberger, emigrated from Virginia. In 1851 he moved to Siskiyou county, California, where he engaged in mining. He died September 7, 1868. Yreka Union, September 12, 1868.
Rev. Joseph E. Parrott, a man of fine talents and a tirm Methodist was born in Missouri, in 1821, emigi-ated to Oregon, in 1848, and married Susan Gar- rison, in 1851, who died in August, 1869. On the 31st of May, 1870, he mar- ried Mrs. L. A. Worden. On the 3rd of September, 1872, he died at his home near Lafayette in Yamhill county. Portland Advocate, September 19, 1872.
Buford Smith, who settled in Marion county, after a long residence removed to Northern California, where he remained a few years and returned to Oregon, having lost his health. He survived the change but a short time, and the once energetic and always genial pioneer of 1848 passed to his rest at the age of 70 years, November 6, 1870. Salem Farmer, Nov, 12, 1870.
Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, wife of Buford Smith, was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in November, 1876. Their sons were A., Charles and William Smith, who resided at Silverton in Marion county. Salem Statesman, November 24, 1876.
William Greenwood was born in Hardy county, Va., September 13, 1806 ; on the 12th of August, 1828, he married Elizabeth Jane Bramel, and in 1832 removed to St. Louis, Mo., and two years later to near Burlington, Iowa, emigrating in 1858 to Oregon, and settling on Howell Prairie. He was always an upright and industrious citizen. He was elected to the State senate in 1862, serving four years. His death occurred May 18, 1869, from injuries received by accident, leaving two sous and two daughters and a lai-ge estate. Id., August 9, 1869.
Mrs. Jane Belknap, wife of Jesse Belknap, died December 10, 1876. Born in Penu., in 1792, she emigrated with her parents to western N. Y., in 1796. At the age of 16 she became a convert to Methodism, and on settling with her husband in Benton county, kept open house to the ministry, entertaining Bishop Simpson on his first visit to Oregon to preside over the first annual conference of the Methodist church. She had a large family of children. Her husband survived her. Portland Advocate, December 21, 1876.
Rev. John W. Starr was born in Va., in 1795, removed to Ohio in childhood and from thit state in 1839 to Van Buren Co., Iowa, emigrating in 1848 to Oregon and locating in Benton county. He was an ardent preacher of his faith from youth to old age. Id., March 20, 1869.