East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-10-10
THE FIRST FARMER IN
THE STATE OF OREGON.

This year the state of oregon will
produce about 12,000,000 bushels of
wheat, UmGtilla county producing al
most 100000 bushels af that enor-
nous crop.
Less than so years ago the first
furrlw was turned in the sod of Ore
gon. Sixty years ago there We're but
two or thre plowed fields in the in
lanG empire, those at Waiilatpu and
at the Spaldmg settlement ON the Nez
Perce reservation,
The story of the first farmer in
oregon is filled with romantic inter-
est From the wheat crop of 1906,
backward through the years to the
first farmer in the state, whose little
tract was plowed on the present site
OF East Portland, in the year 1928, is
a thrilling chapter of adventure, set
tlement, priVation and bravery This
story should be known to every pupil
in Oregon schools. Oregon history is
sadly neglected in the schools of Ore
gcn. During the years in which
attended the puollc schools of east
ern Oregon from 1879 to 1889, | never
heard the names of the first settlers
of oregon mentioned as part of the
history lessons. Plenty of history of
the early settlers of New England but
never word of those of my own ma
tive state Oregon.
According TO the chronicles of Dr.
John Mclaughlin, chief factor of the
Hudson Pay company at Vancouver,
and one of the best and grandest men
who ever lived i'm the state of Ore
gon, the very first farmer, the man
who plowed the first furrow in what
is now the state of Oregon, was Eth
enne Lucier, a Canadian Frenchman
who settled on the present site of
/ East Portland in 1928 and began
| forming Oh a modest scale, his seed
| grain and supplies being furnished
from the ample store at Fort VAN
| cCuver.
Lucier came to Astoria with the
overland Astor party under Hunt in
1911. He was member of the party
to which belonged John Day and
/ Ramsay Crooks who suffered such
| awful experiences along the Columbia
| river during the winter of 1S11-12.
| After Astoria was abandoned by the
Astor company Lucier joined the
/ HT"son Bay company under -. John
/ McLouEhlil, his term of service with
/ the Hudson Bay company expiring in
/ 1928, when he located on a tract of
/ land on the east bank of the william
ette on the exact spot where the city
of East Portland now stands and thus
became the very first actual farmer
in the state of oregon.
1t was bold adventure for Lucier
according to the chronicles. He ar.
gued long with Dr. Mclaughlin as tc
whether wheat would grow in the sol
along the Willamette. The question
of farming was discussed from every
side and while Lucler was anxious tC
settle and build UP a home, yet h,
regretted to give up the gay life o
the trapper and adventurer which haC
lured him from his home in Canadi
and which had tempted him to joir
the westward moving tides of civili
Zation.
Lucier lived on his Willamette rive
farm for I number of years raisin,
wheat, corn, oats and rye. beslde
large quantities of vegetables. wheI
he removed TO French Prairie nea
Salem, which in the meantime haC
been settled by his Canadian breth
rem with their Indian wives. He die
at his home in French Prairie il
1853.
According to DR.. Mclaughlin, tn
first American settler in Oregon wa
James NJ. Bates, sailor who ha,
$ escaped from the wreck of the Asto
; snip, William and Ann, and who set
tied on the Columbia river at Soap
poose bay few miles below Suavie'
island in 1929, and thus became tn
first American farmer in the virgil
state. Bates lived at Scappoose 70
MANY years, cultivating his farm an
marketing ,his produce in the littl
burg. of Portland, which sprarg u
on his old boat landing on the VIII
lsmette
. The story Of the first orchard 4
9 Oregon forms an entertaining stor
n as well as the story Of the first far
!, mer. From the first Seeding appl
tree planted in Oregon soil to tn
fruit fair at Hood River this week
j forms thrilling chapter in Orego
e history. Other phases of Oregon
= early lie and history will be recount
ed from time to time in hopes @
stimulating interest In Oregon his
s tory among the people of Oregon
t No land is more fraught with romano
than Oregon. No story in history ha
g.. more intense human interest than tn
l founding of the state and the settle
: ment of her fertile valleys. Ever
@ step in her history Is marked b