The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1950-04-05

BY u. l. GONOAAh
The majority of the SETTLERS of
the Oregon country came from
slavery areas and tine foiIswing
provision was voted into TIM Ore
gom state constitution by N major
ity OF eight to sne:
"N0 free Negro or uEufntto not
residing In the state Mt the adOp-
ton OF this constitution shall
come, reside - be Within this
state or hsfd any real estate or
maEs any contract or maintain any
suit therein, and the Legislature
shah provide by penal laws for the
removal OF an such Negroes and
mufattos and for their exclusion
frsm the state and for the punislie
ment Of persons who shall bring
them into this state or employ OF
harbor them"
Previously. some Negroes had
accompanied their masters to the
new land and some had come as
free men. Outstanding among
them was William Bush, who
had settled at what became
known as Bush Prairie near Olym-
pia and had become a leader in
the community through his ability
and kindly helpful nature. When
the constitution barred him from
getting title to his land, the cit
liens petitioned Congress for a law
which would give all persons who
had settled in the territory prior
to 1850 full rights to citizenship
The bill was enacted by Congress
and Bush retained his land. Later
his son was a member of the first
Legislature.
CENTRALIA was founded by q
Negro, George Washington. He
came from Missouri in 1850 with
his master, who later freed him
and adopted him as son. Within
two years, Washington accumu
lated $4,000 and purchased hi!
adopted fathers claim. Anothel
statement of the matter is tina
Washington arrived after tn,
adoption of the state constitution
barring him from demonstrating
land, so he had white friend fill
on a claim which Washington
later purchased. He built a hom
plated the town and began sell
ing lots for $40 each, offering fire
lots to all who would build. Year
later the Northern Pacific wa
built through this farm. Cen
tralia grew and prospered an
Washington became wealthy.
Several of the Negro settler
won the respect and admiratio
of the settlers > by their sterlin
qualities and they were treate
with more cordially than Ne
groes in most other sections c
the country. Among them wa
William (BilD Gross, who wo
a rather special niche in tn
hearts of Seattle pioneers an
: was treated as an equal by sue
: men as Denny and Yesler. eros
had served in the United State
Navy in the Orient under Com
modore Perry, and came to Seatti
on the advice of Gov. Isaac
Stevens He opened a hotel, "Ou
: House." on Mill Street l(Yesle
Way below First Avenue Sout
J and for years it was a popula
rendezvous. He was a large mar
, and in his later years he sweIle
, to such proportions that he coul
not get out of the door of hi
home.
Seattle has had two newspaper
published by Negroes. The Seattl
Standard, launched in 1892, an
short-lived, and the Seattle Re
publican, established two year
las@st It survived 81 years.
WITH She coming of a railroad
Portland Experienced a limited
infiltration OF Negroes. They hac
to pay a head Gssc of $40, had nc
civil rights and could. find no EN-.
ployment but the most mental
jobs, In later years, animosity
against the Chinese drew atten-
ton away from the Negroes.