, 1852-09-25
Puget sOund-The Past and Present

Of the Pacific ocean-Puget Sound-was
used only as a thorougbfare OF trada by the
Hudson Bay Company; and save The arri-
val at protracted intervals Of large vessels
in that eompany's service, its placid waters
were disiurbed only by the batcau, or the
frail but inimitable canocsof the native red
skins, and the unbroken silence Of its tree
clad shores, proclaimed the counlry-wiL-
DEREEss,
The farms or the company above refer
red to on the Cowlitz river, and its trading
establishment, at Fort Nesqually, were then
the only evidences OF civilization that could
be traced Ktbin the borders of our vast ros-
sessions north Of the Columbia. No cxten-
tensive explorations bad ever been made By
that oompany's agents, and The Indians, eou-
fning themselves almost exclusively along
the various streams, could give but little in
formation with regard to The character Of
the interior or surrounding country.
II was reserved for the bold and adveniur-
Gus pioneers Of the frontier states, whom
no earthly appliances could awe or inlimi-
date, to overcome the almost insurmounia-
bic Obstacles which iniervened between their
former homes, and the new ones Of which
they were in search on the Pacific coast,
to explOre-tO occupy, and 10 redeem this
garden Of the American continent from its
primeval soliiude-ihen almost supreme
In addition TO their frequent protraeted de-
tention on the margins Of rivers which they
were then obliged to construct RATS in order
20 cross-sufering from constant Indian az,
gression, against whom the government had
neither Instituted ihe means OF chaslise-
ment, nor afforded succor OF protection to
The injurcd-lhey were obliged for q cOnsid-
cradle distance Of their Two thousand miles
journey, TO direct their course BY The setting
sun-survey their own route, and reach the
goal Of their destination as best they could.
These are the men, who, aner gaining ad-
mission into the Willamette valley, had the
courage TO buckle on anew the armor ol
perseverance,; and, making trail for their
stock dowH The Colu.nbia and up the Cow
litz rivers, open road for the transportation
Of their families into the interior. II is to
them that our infant territory is indebted
for its exploi atiOn--lhe Development, so far
as made, Of its resources-its rapid i'm
provement and settlement, by hardy and
entsrprising population-the increasing i'm
migration within our bordas-the attention
which our country rs commanding from
abroad and more than all, it is 10 the in
trepid spirits who sought these shores in '45,
and those who followed them in subsequent
years, that northern Oregon is indebted for
a PLACE among the territories, and will
shortly command NAME amongst the States
Of our great conlederacy.
The following data may not prove iuap-
'propliate,. Or serve improbable, by way Of
contrasting the past and present Of northern
Oregon:
In August Is45, Col. M. T. Simmons,
Geo. Wahch, and seven other, arrived at
Budd's Inlet, (P. S.)-undor the pilotage Of
Peter Bercier-lhe first American Citizens
who came 70 settle north Of the Columbia
Being pleased with the appearance of the
country, Col. S. returned to the Columbia,
where he had lcft his family, and in Oclo-
Der moved over, accompanied by Messrs.
J. McAlisler, D. Kindred, Gabriel Jones,
George Bush, and families, and J. Fergu-
son and S. B. Crockett, single men. They
at first settled on the prairies from one to
eight miles south Of the present Town of Olym-
pa, and were fifteen days in completing
their journey from the Cowliz landing to
the Sound--a distance Of sixty miles-be-
5ng compelled 10 cut road for themselves
through the timbered part Of the country.
In the fall of the same year, J. R. Jackson,
Esq. located at Aurora, his present beauti-
fol residence, ten miles 10 the northward ol
Cowlitz landing ine town site known
more recently as WarbasspOrt.
In 1876, Mcssrs. S. S. Ford, sen., and
J. Borst, came over and settled on the Chic
kseles river, which is about midway be-
tween Olympia and Warbassport. Messrs.
Packwood and Eaton, with their families
this year, also joined the American settle
menl on the Sound. Same year, Col. Sim
mons erected the FIRST American grist mil
north Of The Columbia, previous to which
lime the inhabitants were obliged TO subsisi
on boiled WHEAT, or do their grinding with
band mills.