 george abernethy (october 7, 1807 â march 2, 1877) was an american pioneer, notable entrepreneur, and first governor of oregon under the provisional government based in the willamette valley, an area later a part of the american state of oregon. he traveled to oregon country as a secular member of the methodist mission, where he became involved in politics and helped found the first american newspaper west of the rocky mountains. ==early life== abernethy was born on october 7, 1807 in new york city.corning, howard m. dictionary of oregon history. binfords & mort publishing, 1956. he was of scottish descent. he received his education in new york as well as learning the commercial trade. in 1830, abernethy married anne pope. missionary jason lee recruited abernethy in 1839 to join him at the methodist mission in oregon country. he, his wife, and two children joined the great reinforcements that sailed on the ship lausanne around cape horn to the pacific northwest. ==oregon== arriving on june 1, 1840, abernethy was placed in charge as steward of the oregon mission,gatke, robert m. a document of mission history, 1833-43. oregon historical quarterly 36, no. 1 (1935), pp. 71-94. focusing on the missionâs mercantile business in oregon city. his specific instructions from the methodist board requested an annual "account of all the goods, merchandise, clothing, farming and mechanical utensils, the produce of the farms, and the mechanical shops, the stock on the farm at a fair valuation, together with the worth of the houses, barns, mills, and ships, or whatever else may belong to the mission, and likewise charge to each member of the mission family the article or articles he or she may take from the store or farms for his or her use..." among his early accomplishments were establishing the first newspaper (the oregon spectator) in the oregon territory and establishing good business relations with the britis
1807_births 1877_deaths American_Christian_missionaries American_Methodists American_people_of_Scottish_descent Burials_at_River_View_Cemetery_(Portland,_Oregon) Christian_missionaries_in_the_United_States Governors_of_Oregon_Territory Members_of_the_Provisional_Government_of_Oregon Methodist_Mission Methodist_missionaries Oregon_pioneers People_from_New_York_City People_from_Oregon_City,_Oregon Politicians_from_Portland,_Oregon