THE SUNDAY OREGONIAJS', PORTLAND, OCTOBER 8, 1905.
3S
a ff mm
This Is a part of the address deliv
ered by ITrederlck V. Holman on Mc
Loughlln day, October 6, at the Lewis
and Clark Centennial Exposition It
is more than an address; It is a care
ful ly prepared biography of the
"Great White Chief," who for more
than 20 rears ruled firmly but always
in a humane, spirit, an empire of 4&0,
000 square miles. 3Ir. Jlolmaa's deep
researches. Ills statements of fact, tho
Judicial tone of his opinions and his
broad treatment of the distinguished
subject, commend his Trork to eteij
pioneer, to pioneer posterity asd to the
Inquiring youth of the Pacific North
west who cannot help but be Inter
ested in its beginnings. Ia the next
two issues of The Sunday Oregonian
the biography will be concluded.
MR. PRESIDENT, Members of the Or
egon Historical Society, Oregon. Pi
oneers, Ladies and Gentlemen:
"When I was so greatly honored by being
selected to deliver the address on Dr.
John McLfOughlln, tho Father of Oregon,
on this day set apart by the Lewis and
Clark Centennial Exposition in "his honor
and to his memory, I determined that it
would be fitting to give a short but ac
curate history of his life and deeds. I
have verified all tho dates and statements
in this address by reliable histories of Or
egon, by books written about early Ore
gon, by public records, by public and pri
vate documents, and by personal Inter
views with old Or,cgon pioneers. I be
lieve there are no errors in my statements
of fact. I also believe that my estimate
and opinions of Dr. John McLoughlln and
his contemporaries are truo and Just as
Bet forth In this address. When I bad
completed my address I found that it was
too long for oral delivery- I have there
fore condensed it for this occasion. It
will be printed in full in the Quarterly
of tho Oregon Historical Society for Der
cembcr, 1905.
In order that everyone may understand,
I think it necessary to give first a brief
statement of tho Oregon country, and
somo facts relating 'to its early history.
The treaty of June 15, 1846, between The
United States and England fixed the pres
ent northern boundary line of tho United
States west of the Rocky Mountains. Pri
or to that time what was known as the
"Oregon Country" was bounded on the
south by latitude 42 degrees, the present
northern boundary of the States of Cali
fornia and Nevada; on the north by lati
tude 54 degrees and 40 minutes, tho pres
ent southerly boundary of Alaska; on
the east by the Rocky Mountains, and on
the west by the Pacific Ocean. It Includ
ed all of tho states of Oregon, Washing
ton and Idaho, and parts of the states
pf Montana and "Wyoming, and all that
part of the present Dominion of Canada
between latitudes 49 degrees and 54 de
grees 40 minutes, and west of tho Rocky
Mountains. Its area was approximately
400,000 square miles, an area about 25 per
cent greater than that of tho original 13
colonies at the time of tho American Rev
olution. Early Settlements and Joint Occu
pancy. The "first settlement on tho Columbia
River was made by the Pacific Fur Com
pany, which was organized and. controlled
by John Jacob Astor. It founded Astoria
March 22, 1811. On October 16, 1813. the
establishments of the Pacific Fur Com
pany in the Oregon Country, and all its
furs and supplies, were sold, at less than
one-third of their value, to the North
west Company, of Montreal, by the
treachery of Duncan McDougal, a part
ner of Astor. December 1, 1813, the Brit
ish, sloop of war Raccoon arrived at As
toria and took formal possession of As
toria. The captain of tho Raccoon
changed the name of Astoria to Fort
George. The Northwest Company con
tinued to carry on its business at Fort
George and at other points In the Oregon
Country until its coalition with the Hud
son's Bay Company in 1S2L
The treaty of peace between tho United
States and England at tho conclusion of
the war of 1812 was signed at Ghent, De
cember 24, 1814. Under the Treaty of J
Ghent Great Britain, In 1S18, formally re
stored to tho United States the settlement
of Fort George (Astoria).
A convention between the United States
and Great Britain was signed October 20,
ISIS. That convention provided that the
Oregon Country shouldbe free and open,
for the period of ten years, to the citi
zens of the two countries. Another con
vention between the two countries was
made in 1827, by which this Joint occu
pancy was continued Indefinitely, subject
to termination, after October 20, 1828, by
cither United States or Great Britain giv
ing to tho other 12 months' notice. No no
tice, as provided by this convention of
1827 was given by either nation until -846,
when, by act of Congress, such notice
was given, shortly prior to the boundary
treaty of 1S4G.
Tho Hudson's Bay Company and tho
Northwest Company.
The Hudson's Bay Company was estab
lished in 1869 under a charter granted by
King Charles 1L The Northwest Com
pany was formed In Montreal In 1784. It
became the great rival of the Hudson's
Bay Company. In 1821 the Northwest
Company coalesced with the Hudson's
Bay Company. Dr. McLoughlln was a
member of the Northwest Company and
opposed the coalition in a most determined
manners He would not sign the final
agreement, as he considered It unfair to
himself and to his associates In tho
Northwest Company. But the Hudson's
Bay Company knew of Dr.McLoughlln,
and it employed him as chief factor to
manage and to build up tho company's
business In the Oregon Country. He was
given plenary powers. He was the man
for the place and the time.
Genealogy and Early Life of Dr.
John McLoughlln.
l?fT John McLoughlln was born October
19, 1784, In Parish La Riviere de Loup,
Canada, about 63 miles below Quebec. Ho
was baptized November 3, 1784, at the
Parish of Karoouraska, Canada. Both
of his parents were Roman Catholics.
His father was John McLoughlln, a na
tlvo of Ireland. Of him little is now
known, excepting that he was a man of
high character. Ho was accidentally
drowned In tho St. Lawrence River, tho
date I have been unable to ascertain. It
was probably whilo his son John was
quite young. For convenience, I shall
hereafter speak of John McLoughlln, the
younger, as Dr. John McLoughlln, or Dr.
McLoughlln. Hla mother's maiden nnnto
wag Angellquc Frazer. a very fine woman.
She was born in the Parish of Beaumont,
Canada. She died in Canada. July 3, 1S42,
aged 83 years. Her father was Malcolm
Fraser. At the time of hi3 retirement
from the army and setttemejit in Canada,
1765, he was a Captain In" the Eighty
fourth Regiment of the British regular
army.
Dr. John McLoughlln's father and
mother had seven children, of whom five
wero daughters; tho youngest daughter
died while young. He was the second
Frederick
-Autocrat of this
child, but the oldest son, bis brother j
David" being tho third child, j
It Is probable that Dr. John McLough- j
lin and his brother David were brought
up in the house of their maternal grand
father. Their only maternal uncle was
Samuel Frazer. M. D. Ho was a lleuten- i
ant In the Royal Highland Regiment (tho
famous "Black "Watch" regiment).
His maternal relatives seem to have ex
ercised a strong Influence Oh both young j
John and David McLoughlln. They both j
became physicians. David served in the :
British army and. after tho battle of j
"Waterloo, practiced mcdlclno In Paris, j
France. !
Dr. John McLoughlln was educated In I
Canada and Scotland. In 1821 he was in
charge of Fort "William, for the North- ;
west Company, when that company coal- j
esced with tho Hudson's Bay Company.
It was at Fort William he became ac
quainted with the widow of Alexander
McKay, who was killed In the capture
and destruction of the Tonquln, at Nootka
Sound, In 1SU. Vrhey were subsequently
married. The exact date I have been un
able to ascertain.
Dr. John McLoughlln and wife had four
children, whose names and order of birth
were as follows: Eliza. John, Elolsa and
David. They are all dead. Eliza Mc
Loughlln married Captain Epps, an of
ficer In the English army. John Mc
Loughlln, Jr., was murdered In April,
1S42. at Fort Stlkecn. where he was In
charge. Elolsa McLoughlln was Dr. Mc
Loughlln's favorite child. She was mar
ried to William Glen Rae at Fort Van
couver In 1S3S. Rae was appointed, after
his marriage, a chief trader of. the Hud
son's Bay Company. He died In 1B40. All
of their children are dead, excepting two
who are granddaughters of Dr. McLough
lln Mrs. Theodore Wygant and Mrs. Jo
slah Myrlck. both now living In Portland.
In October. 1850, Mrs. Rae was married
to Daniel Harvey. Thero were three chil
dren of this second marriage, all of whom
are now dead. Daniel Harvey -died prior
to his wife. She died at Portland in Oc
tober, 1884. In Portland and Its vicinity
there are now living several children of
Mrs. Wygant and Mrs. Myrlck. and also
several grandchildren of Mrs. Wygant.
David McLoughlln. the youngest child,
was educated in England. He returned
to Oregon, and later mado his home In
Idaho, where he died at an advanced age.
McLouglilln and the Oregon Country
Nature seems to have used-an especial
mould for the making of Dr. McLoughlln.
Physically, he was a superb specimen of
man.. His height was not less than six
feet four inches; he was beautifully and
almost perfectly proportioned. He carried
himself as a master, which gave him an
appearance o belns? more than six feet
and a half high. Mentally he was endowed
to match his magnificent physical pro
portions. Ho was bravo and fearless;
he was truo and Just; he was truthful and
scorned to lie. The Indians, as well as his
subordinates, soon came to know that if
he threatened punishment for an offense,
it was as certain as tho offense occurred.
He was absolute master of himself and
of those under him. He allowed none of
his subordinates to question or to disobey.'
This was necessary to conduct the busi
ness of his company, and to. preserve
peace in the vast Oregon country. He
was facile prlnceps there was no second.
And, yet, with all these dominant qual
ities, he had the greatest kindness, sym
pathy and humanity. Ho needed all his
stern and manliko characteristics to gov
ern the employes and dependents of his
company, and to conduct Its business in
the Oregon country.
Here was an empire in physical extent,
intersected by great rivers and chains of
mountains. There was no one on whom he
could depend, excepting his under-officers
and the company's servants. To him was
given no bands of trained soldiers to gov
ern a country half again larger than the
Empire of Germany, and occupied by
treaclwrous savages; and so to govern as
not to be to the prejudice or to the exclu
sion of citizens of the United States, or
to encourage them, or to help them.
When ho first came to Oregon it was
not safe for the Company's parties to
travel except in large numbers and heav
ily armed. In a few years there was prac
tically no' danger A single boat loaded
with goods or furs was as safo as a
great flotilla had been when he arrived
on the Columbia River in 1824. It was Dr.
John McLoughlln who did this by his per
sonality, by his example, and by his in
fluence. When he came to Oregon he was nearly
40 years old. His hair was then almost
white, and worn long, falling almost to
his shoulders. It did not tako long for
the Indians to know him and give him a
name. To some of the Indians he was
the "White-Headed Eagle." and to others
tho "Great White Chief."
Fort Vancouver.
Dr. McLoughlln came overland to Fort
George (Astoria), arriving thero In 1824.
Ho soon saw that tho place for a great
trading and supply post should be further
up the Columbia River. After careful
surveys In small boats ho selected Fort
Vancouver, on the north side of the Co
lumbia River, about seven miles above the
mouth of the Willamette River, and sev
eral miles below the point named Point
Vancouver by Lieutenant Broughtan. In
1792.
In 1823 Fort Vancouver was constructed
in part and tho goods and effects at Fort
George wero moved to Fort Vancouver.
Tho final completion of the latter fort
was not until a later period. A few
years later, about 1830, a new fort was
erected about a mile westerly from tho
original fort. Here is where is now lo
cated the present United States Military
post commonly known as Fort Vancou
ver. Dr. McLoughlln soon established
thero a large farm. It was afterwards
stocked with cattle, horses, sheep, goats.
ana nogs, an itii mere were 3000 acres m
cultivation, fenced intofiolds, with hero
and there dairy houses and herdsmen's
and shepherd's cottages. There wero
about ten acres in apple, pear and quince
trees, which bore in profusion. He es
tablished two saw mills and two flour
mills at or near the fort. For many
years he shipped lumber to the Hawaiian
Islands and flour to Sitka.
It was not many years after Dr. Mc
Loughlln came to, the Oregon Country
until It was one of the most jrofitablo
parts of North America to the Hudson's
Bay Co. The London value of the yearly
gathering of furs In the Oregon Country
varied from $700,000 to 51.O00.O00 sums of
money representing then a value of sev
eral fold more than such sums represent
today.
Fort Vancouver was a parallelogram of
about seven hundred and fifty feet long
and four hundred and fifty broad, en
closed by an upright picket wall of large
and closely fitted beams, over twenty feet
In height, secured by buttresses on tho
Inside.
The Interior was divided into two courts,
having about forty buildings, all of wood
except the powder magazine, which was
constructed of brick and stone. In the
centre, facing the main entrance, stood
the Hall or Governor's residence,, with
the dining-room, smoking-room, and pub
lic sitting-room, or bachelor's ball. Sin
gle men, clerks, and others made the
bachelors hall their place of resort. The
other buildings consisted of dwellings for
VHolmans
ofilcers and their families, school, warehouses,-
retail stores, and shops.
A short distance from tho fort, on the
bank of tho river, was a village of more
than50 houses, for the mechanics and ser
vants, built in rows, so as to form streets.
Thero wero also the hospital, boathouso
and salmon-house, and near by were
bams, threshing mills, granaries and dairy
buildings. The whole number of persons
at Fort Vancouver, men, women and chil
dren, was about SCO.
At tho Hall they lived well. The Hall
was an oasis In the vast social desert of
Oregon. It was a fairyland to the early
travelers, after their long, hard Journey
across half tho Continent. Hero Dr. John
McLoughlln lived and ruled in a manner
befitting that of an old English baron in
feudal times, but with a graciousness and
courtesy which. I fear, were not tho rule
with tho ancient barons.
Pr. McLoughlln was a very temperate
man. Ht rarely- drank any alcoholic bev
erages, even wines. There was an excep
tion one time each year, when the fes
tivities began on the return of the brigade
with tho year's furs to Vancouver. He
then drank a glass of wine to open the
festivities. Soon after he camo to Oregon.
from morality and policy, ho stopped the
salo of liquor to Indians. To do this ef
fectually ho had to stop tho sale of liquor
to all whites.
Dr. McLoughlln soon established numer
ous forts and posts in the Oregon country.
all of which were tributary to Fort Van
couver. In 1839 there were 20 of these
forts besides Vancouver. The policy of
tho Hudson's Bay Company was to crush
out all rivals in trade. It had an abso
lute monopoly of tho fur trade of 'Canada
proper under acts of parliament, and un
der its agreement with the British gov
ernment. But in the Oregon Territory Its
right to trade therein was limited only by
the conventions of ISIS and 1S27. and by
tho act of parliament of July 2, 1S2L
As there could be no legal exclusion of '
American citizens, It could be done only
by occupying the country, building forts,
establishing trade, and friendly relations
with tho Indians, and preventing rivalry
by tho laws of trade, including ruinous
competition. As tho Hudson's Bay Com
pany bought its goods in large quantities
in England, paid no import duties and
shipped by sea. it could sell at a profit at
a comparatively low price. In addition,
its goods were of extra good quality,
usually much better than thoso of the
American traders. It also desired to pre
vent the settling .of the Oregon country.
The latter purpose was for two reasons
to preserve the fur trade, and to prevent
the Oregon country from being settled by
Americans to tho prejudico of Great Bri
tain's claim to the Oregon country.
For moro than 10 years after Dr. Mc
Loughlln came to Oregon there waa no'
serious competition to tho Hudson's Bay
Company in the Oregon country west of
the Blue Mountains. An occasional ship
would come into the Columbia River and
depart. At times American fur traders
entered into serious competition with the
Hudson's Bay Company cast of tho Bluo
Mountains. Such traders were Bonneville,
Sublette, Smith, Jackson and others.
Th,ey could bo successful only partially
against tho competition of the Hudson's
Bay Company.
Dr. McLoughlln was tho autocrat of the
Oregon country. His was a despotism
tempered only by his common sense, his
mercy and his humanity. His allegiance
was to his country and to his company.
He knew tho Americans had legal right
to occupy any part of the Oregon coun
try, and he knew from the directors of
his company as early as 1825 that Great
Britain did not Intend to claim any part
of tho Oregon country south of the Co
lumbia River. Tho duly trading post ho
established south of the Columbia River
was on the Umpqua River.
I do not wish to place Dr. McLoughlln
on a pedestal, nor to represent him as
more than a grand and noblo man, ever
true, as far as possible, to his company's
interests and to himself. To be faithless
to his company was to bo a weakling and
contemptible. Ho was a very human, as
well as a very humane man. He had a
quick and violent temper. His position as
chief factor and his continued use of
power often made him dictatorial. And
yet he was jjpllte, courteous, gentle and
kind, and a gentleman.
Punishment of Indians.
The policy of tho company, as well as
that of "Dr. McLoughlln. was to keep
Americans, especially traders, out of the
Oregon country. The difference was that
Dr. McLoughlln believed that they should
bo kept out only so far as it could v be
done lawfully. But he did not allow
them to bo harmed by the Indians, and he
let all Indians know that he would punish
for offenses against the Americans as ha.
would for offenses against the British and
tho Hudson's Bay Company. v
Ia his early years In Oregon on two
occasions he caused an Indian to be
hanged for murder of a white .man.
When the Hudson's Bay Company's ship
William and Ann was wrecked on Sand
Island. In 1S23, at the mouth of the Co-
FREDERICK V. HOLMAN.
c
lumbia River, and a part of her crew
supposed to have been murdered and the
wreck looted, he sent a well-armed and
manned schooner and 10) voyageura to
punish the Indians.
Jcbedlah Smith was a rival trader to
the Hudson's Bay Company. In 1S2S all
his party of IS mcn excepting four, ono
of whom was Smith, were murdered by
the Indians near the mouth of the Ump
qua River. All their goods and furs were
stolen. These four survivors arrived at
Fort Vancouver, but not all together.
They were all at the point of perishing
from exhaustion and were nearly naked.
Dr. McLoughlln sent a strong party to
the Umpqua River, which recovered these
furs, of a value of $3200. Smith, at his
own Instance, sold these furs to the Hud
son's Bay Company, receiving the full
value for the furs, without deductions.
The effect of this Smith matter was far
reaching and long-continued. The Indians
understood, even if they did not appre-
clate, that the opposition of Dr. McLough.
lln to Americans as traders did not ap
ply to them personally.
In 1S42 tho Indiana in the Eastern Ore
gon country became alarmed for the rea
son that they believed tho Americans In
tended to take away their land. Some of
the Indians desired to raise a war party
and surprise and massacre tho American
settlements In the Willamette Valley.
This could have been done easily at that
time. Through the influence of Dr. Mc
Loughlln with Penpeumoxmox (Yellow
Serpent), a chief of the Cayuses, this
trouble was averted.
I shall presently tell how Dr. McLough
lln saved the Immigrants of 1S43 from
great troublo and probable massacre by
the Indians.
Early French Canadian Settlers.
After the death of Dr. McLoughlln there
was found among his private papers a
document in his own handwriting. This
was probably written shortly prior to his
death. It gives many interesting facts,
many of which I shall presently set forth.
This document was given to Colonel J.
W. Nesmith by a descendant of Dr. Mc
Loughlln. It was presented to the Oregon
Pioneer Association by Colonel Nesmith
in 1SS0. It was printed at length in the
transactions of that association for that
year, pages 45-53. I shall hereinafter re
fer to this document as "the McLoughlln
Document." In this McLoughlln docu
ment he says:
"In 1S25. from what I had seen of the
country, I formed the conclusion from the
mildness and salubrity of tho climate,
that this was the finest portion of North
America that I had seen for the residence
of civilized man." He had the states
manlike quality of being a far-seeing man.
Thus early ho saw that what Is now
Western Oregon was bound to be a pop
ulous country. It was evidently with this
view that he located his land claim at
Oregon City In 1S29. He could endeavor to
have settlers locate In the Willamette
Valley and thus preserve, to a great ex
tent, the fur animals in other parts of
the Oregon country, and especially north
of the Columbia River.
Tho Hudson's Bay Company was bound
under heavy penalties not to dlschargo
any of Its servants in tho Indian coun
try, and was bound to return them to
tho places where they were originally
hired. As early as 1S2S several French
Canadian servants or employes, whoso
times of service were about ended, did
not deslro to return to Canada, but to
settle In Oregon. The French-Canadians
followed his advice. To allow theso
French-Canadians to become settlers he
kept them nominally on the books of
the Hdson's Bay Company as Us ser
vants. He loaned each of them seed and
wheat to feed his family, to be returned
from the produce of his farm, and sold
him implements and supplies at 50 per
cent advance on London cost. Dr. Mc
Loughlln also loaned each of these Cana
dlan settlers two cows, the Increase to
belontr to the Hudson's Bay Company, as
it then had only a small herd, and he
wished to Increaso the herd. If any of
the cows died he did not make the settler
pay for the animal. If ho had sold the
cattle tho company could not supply
other settlers. To protect tho poor set
tiers against the richer and to make a
herd of cattle for the henent of the whole
country, ho refused to sell to any one.
He determined that no cattle should be
killed, except one bull calf every year for
rennet to make cheese, until he had an
ample stock to meet. all demands of his
company, and to assist settlers, a resolu
tlon to which ho strictly adhered. The
first animal killed for beef was in 1S3S.
Until that time the company's officers
BlOGgAPHYfiF
Gre,at Empire
and employes had lived on fresh and salt
venison and wild fowl. Dr. McLoughlln
gave the American settlers prior to 1S42
the same terms as he gave to the French
Canadian settlers. But somo of these ear
ly American settlers were much Incensed
at the refusal of Dr. McLoughlln to sell
the cattle, although they accepted the
loan of the cows.
It has been asserted that Dr. McLough
lln Intended to maintain a monopoly in
cattle. But if that was hl3 Intention, as
he refused to sell, where was to bo the
profit? If Dr. McLoughlln intended to
create a monopoly, he himself assisted to
break It. That such was not his Intention
Is shown by his helping the settlers to
procuse cattle from California In 1836.
In 1S3S a company was formed to go to
California to buy cattle and drive them
to Oregon overland. About $2500 was
raised for this purpose, of which amount
Dr. McLoughlln. for the Hudson's Bay
Company, subscribed about half. The
number of cattle which were thus brought
to Oregon was 630. at a cost ot about 53
a head.
Early Traders and Missionaries.
In 1S32 Nathaniel J. Wyeth, of Cam
bridge, Mass., came overland with a small
party, expecting to meet. In the Columbia
River, a vessel with supplies to compete
with the Hudson's Bay Company. The
vessel was wrecked in the South Pacific
Ocean. She and the cargo were a total
loss. This party arrived at Vancouver In
a destitute condition. Although they ex
pected their vessel and Dr. McLoughlln
knew they came as competing traders, he
welcomed them cordially, supplied their,
necessities on Ihelr credit and gave
Wyeth a seat at his own table. Wyeth
was most hospitably entertained by Dr.
McLoughlln until February 3, 1S33, when
ho left Vancouver for his- home overland.
He was accompanied by three of his men.
the rest staying at Vancouver. In 1834
Wyeth again came overland to the Co
lumbia River with a large party. On the
way he established Fort Hall (now In
Idaho), in direct opposition to the Hud
son's Bay Company, as he had a perfect
right to do. He and his party arrived
at Fort Vancouver September 14. 1S34.
and were hospitably received by Dr. Mc
Loughlln. Immediately on his arrival.
Wyeth started in active competition with
the Hudson's Bay Company. It was the
beginning of a commercial war betweon
the two companies, but It was a warfare
on honorable lines. In the end Wyeth
was beaten by Dr. McLoughlln and sold
out his entire establishment to tho Hud
son's Bay Company. For Dr. McLoughlln
to have acted otherwise than he did
would have shown him to be unfit to
hold his position as chief factor. Wyeth
was too big and too capable a man not
to understand this. In Wyeth's Journals
of his two expeditions he speaks in the
highest terms of Dr. McLoughlln and of
his treatment of Wyeth. Wyeth retained
through his life the highest regard for
Dr. McLoughlln. Wyeth was a man of
great ability, enterprise and courage. His
expedition deserved a better fate. He
was a high-minded gentleman. Although
his two expeditions were failures, he
showed his countrymen the way to Ore
gon, which many shortly followed.
Rer. H. K. Hlnes, D. D., was a Meth
odist minister, who came to Oregon in
l33.He was a brother of Rev. Gustavus
Hlnes, the Methodist . missionary, who
came to Oregon In 1540 on the Lausanne.
December 10. 1S37, at Pendleton, Or.
Dr. Hlnes. delivered one of the finest trib
utes to Dr. McLoughlln that I know of.
He was fully capable to dp It. for ho
was a profound and scholarly student of
Oregon history. His address should be
read by every one. In his address.
Dr. Hlnes said, speaking in regard to the
failure of the enterprises of Wyeth, Bonne
ville and other fur traders in opposition
to tho Hudson s Bay Company:
"My own conclusion, after a lengthy
and laborious investigation, the result I
have given here In bare outlines, is that
Dr. McLoughlln acted the part only of
an honorable, high-minded and loyal man
In his relation with tho American traders
who ventured to dispute with him the
commercial dominion of Oregon up to
1S33 or 1S37."
When Wyeth left Oregon in 1833 and in
1S35, he left on tho Columbia River a
number of men. These, too, were assisted
by Dr. McLoughlln to Join the Willamette
River settlements. They wero given tho
same terms as he gave the servants of the
Hudson's Bay Company. In assisting these
men whom Wyeth left on his two expe
ditions to become settlers. Dr. McLough
lln was actuated by two motives. The
first was humanitarian; the second was
the desirability, if not necessity, of not
having men llttlo accustomed to think or
to plan for themselves roaming the coun
try and possibly some of them becoming
vagabonds.
The only persons who were not cordial
ly received by Dr. McLoughlln were
Ewing Young- and Hall J. Kelley, who
came to Fort Vancouver In October, 1S34.
Governor Figueroa, the, Governor of Cali
fornia, had written Dr. McLoughlln that
Young and Kelley had stolen horses from
settlers In California. Dr. McLoughlln
told them of tho charges, and that he
would have nothing to do with them until
the Information was shown to bo false.
This was not dono until long afterwards.
It appears that neither Young nor Kelley
was guilt, but some, if not all, of their
party, with which they came to Oregon,
were guilty, and were disreputable char
acters, which Young and Kelley knew.
Tho stand taken by Dr. McLoughlln was
the only proper one. Nevertheless aa
Kelley was sick Dr. McLoughlln gave
him a houso such as was occupied by the
servants of the company outside the fort,
furnished him with an .attendant, and
supplied him with medical aid and all
necessary comforts until March l83j, when
Dr. McLoughlln gave Kelley free passage
to the Hawaiian Islands on the Hudson's
Bay Company's vessel the Dryad, and also
presented Kelley with a draft for seven
pounds sterling, payable at the Hawaiian
Islands.
On his return home, Kelley, instead of
being grateful, most vigorously attacked
the Hudson's Bay Company for Its al
leged abuses of American citizens, and
abused Dr, McLoughlln and falsely stated
that Dr. McLoughlln had been so alarmed
with tho dread that Kelley would destroy
tho Hudson's Bay Company's trade that
Dr. McLoughlln had kept a constant
watch over him. It was this publica
tion of Kelley's which was largely Instru
mental In causing the early Immigrants
to have a strong prejudice against Dr.
McLoughlln and the Hudson's Bay Com
pany on the arrival of these immigrants
In Oregon.
Presbyterian Missionaries.
For convenience I shall first mention
the Presbyterian missionaries, although
they came two years later than tho first
Methodist missionaries.
Rev. Samuel Parker was tho first Pres
byterian minister to arrive in Oregon. Ho
came in 1833. He started to Oregon with
Doctor Marcus Whitman, but Whitman
returned East from Green River to ob
tain more associates for the mission
These came out with Dr. Whitman in
1S36. Parker returned by sea, reaching
his home in 1S37. On Dr. McLoughlln's
Invitation, Parker stayed at Vancouver
alt Winter. He was supplied, free of
charge, with boats and crews to explore
the country, and with clothing and goods
with which to pay the Indians employed
by Parker.
In 1336, Dr. Marcus Whitman came to
THE KtNDLY
Oregon. With him came his wife. Rev.
Henry J. Spalding and wife and W.
H. Gray, a layman. They arrived at
Fort Vancouver, September 1, 1336.
Here they were most hospitably enter
tained by Dr. McLoughlln, and all nec
essary and convenient assistance to
tho missionaries was" freely given.
When these missionaries arrived at
Vancouver, they had hardly moro than
the cloth3 they had on. They con
cluded to locate ono mission near Wall
latpu, near the present City of Walla
Walla, and another near the present
City of Lewiston, In Idaho. Mrs.' Whit
man and Mrs. Spalding remained at
Vancouver for several months, whilo
their husbands and Gray- wero erecting
the necessary houses at the missions.
Methodist Missions and Mission
aries. With Wyeth's second expedition. In
1S34, came the first Methodist mission
aries: Rev. Jason Lee, Rev. Dnniel Lee,
his nephew, and three laymen. They
arrived at Fort Vancouver, September
17, 1S34. They were also hospitably
received by Dr. McLoughlln. and
treated with every consideration and
kindness. Boats and men were fur
nished by Dr. McLoughlln to the mis
sionaries to explore the country and
select a proper place for the establish
ment of their mission.
In the McLoughlln Document, he
says: "In 1S34, Messrs. Jason and Dan
iel Lee. and Messrs Walker and P. L.
Edwards came with Mr. Wyeth to es
tabllsh a mission In the Flathead coun
try. I observed to them . . . that the
Willamette afforded them a fine field, and
that they ought to go there, and they
would get tho same assistance a3 the
settlers. They followed my advice and
went to the Willamette."
Rev. Dr. H. K. HIncs published a
book entitled. "Missionary History of
the Pacific Northwest." While, as is
natural. Dr. Hlnes book is biased In
favor of the Methodist missionaries.
and Jason Lee Is .his hero, nevertheless.
he has endeavored to be fair and Just
to all. in this Missionary history, page
92. Dr. Hlnes says: "It was no acci
dent, nor yet was It any Influence that
Dr. McLoughlln, or any other man or
men had over him (Jason Lee) that de
termined his choice. It was his own
clear and comprehensive statesman
ship. . . . This nature did not play
him false in the selection of the site of
his mission."
When Jason Lee and his party were
ready to leave for their new home. Dr.
McLoughlln placed at their disposal a
boat and crew to transport them and
the mission goods to the new mission,
He loaned them seven oxen, ono bull
and seven cows with their calves. In
his diary, Jason Lee says: "After din
ner embarked In one of the company's
boats kindly manned for us by Dr. Mc
Loughlln, who has treated us with the
utmost attention, politeness and lib
erality." March 1, 1336, Dr. McLoughlln and
the other officers of the Hudson's Bay
Company, all British subjects, sent to
Jason Lee. for the benefit of the Meth
oldest mission, a voluntary gift of $150,
-accompanied by the following letter,
written by Dr. McLoughlln;
"I do myself the pleasure to hand
you the enclosed subscription, which
the gentlemen who have signed it re
quest you will do them the favor to
accept for the use of the mission; and
they pray our Heavenly Father, with
out whose assistance we can do noth
ing, that of his infinite mercy he will
vouchsafe to bless and prosper, your
pious endeavors, and believe me to be,
with esteem and regard, your sincere
well-wisher and humble servant.
In May and September, 1S37, addi
tions to the Methodist mission arrived
In Vancouver by sea. They consisted
of 12 adults and six children. All theso
missionaries were entertained by Dr.
McLoughlln, and provided with com
fortable quarters.
In 1S3S Dr. McLoughlln made a trip
to London, returning to Fort Vancou
ver In 1S39.
In March, 1838, Jason Lee started
east overland, on business for the mis
sion. His wife died June 26, 183S, three
weeks after the birth and death of
their eon. Immediately on her death
Dr. McLoughlln sent an express to
overtake and tell Jason Lee of theso
sad events. The express reached Jason
Lee at Pawnee Mission, near the pres
ent City of Council Bluffs, Ia. (Gusta
vus HIncs "History of the Oregon Mis
sions," 31, 32.) From this act alone
could anyone doubt that Dr. McLough
lln was a sympathetic, kind, thought
ful and considerate man? Or think that
Jason Leo could ever forget?
While Jason Lee was on this trip in
tho Eastern States, the Missionary So
ciety was Induced to raise $42,000 to
arrange for sending 36 adults and 16
children and a cargo of goods and sup
plies, on the ship Lausanne to Oregon
for the Methodist mission. Among these
new missionaries was Rev. Alvan F.
Waller and George Abernethy. a lay
member, who was to bo steward of the
Oregon mission and to have charge of
all it3 secular affairs. This party of
missionaries, who came on the Lau
sanne, aro oftenreferred to as "The
great re-enforcement."
Why this large addition to tho Oregon
mission, and these quantities of supplies,
were sent, and this great expense In
curred, has never been satisfactorily ex
plained. It seems to have been the re
sult of unusual but Ill-directed religious
fervor and , zeal. The Methodist Oregon
mission was then, so far as converting the
Indians, a failure. It was not the fault
of the early missionaries. They labored
hard and zealously. The Indians would
not be converted, or. If converted, stay
converted. Their numbers had been great
ly reduced by the epidemics of 1829-1832.
and the numbers were rapidly being re
duced. And why tho necessity of such
secular business as a part of a mission
to 'convert Indians to Christianity?
Dr. H. K. Hines, in his Missionary His
tory, gives some of the reasons for the
failure to convert the Indians. On pages
367 and 268 he says: "We believe that, as
a race, tho Indians have furnished tho
least hopeful field for permanent religious
culture the church has ever experimented.
Our views have come from a wide per
sonal contact with them, among many
trlbesr for more than 40 years. . . .
Among these tribes the most consecrated
and ablest missionary apostleshlp the
church of Christ "has sent out for cen
turies made almost superhuman efforts
to plant the seed of the 'eternal life. As
a people they gave no fruitful response.
For this reason tho Indian missions dis
appeared from the map of the confer
ence." The Lausanne with its precious and
valuable cargo arrived at Fort Van
couver June 1, 1S40. As soon as he
knew of her arrival in the river, Dr.
McLoughlln sent fresh bread, butter.
milk and vegetables for the passengers
and crow. He supplied rooms and pro
visions for the missionary party, about
53 people. Tnis party remained his
guests, accepting his hospitality, for
several weeks.
In the Summer or 1843 Rev. Jason
Lee was removed as superintendent of
the Oregon Methodist mission, and Rev.
George Gary was appointed in his
place, with plenary powers to cioo
the missions, if he should so elect. He
closed the mission In 1S44.
Provisional Government.
For convenience, I shall speak of tho
Provisional Government of Oregon be
fore I do concerning Dr. McLoughlln's
land claim. As under the treaties of
1818 and 1827 there was Joint occu
pancy between the United States and
Great Britain, the Oregon Country was
without any laws in force.
February 17 and IS, 1S41. a meeting
of the Inhabitants was called and held
at the Methodist mission. Although
attempts were then made to form a
government, tho movement failed. The
matter lay dormant until the Spring of
1S43. The immigration of 1S42. al
though small, and about half of them
went to California in the Spring of
1843. materially increased the strength
of the Americans in Oregon.
After several preliminary meetings
had been held, the momentous meet
ing of May 2, 1843,vas held at Cham
poeg, when, by a vote of 52 In favor
and 50 against, the Provisional Gov
ernment of Oregon was created. Cer
tain officers were elected and a Legis
lative committee of six was also ap
pointed, the latter to report July 5.
1843. On the latter day most of the
feport was adopted, an executive com
mittee was chosen in place of a Gover
nor, and Oregon had at least a de facto
government, which, with some
changes, continued until Oregon had a
territorial government. In 1S49. George
Abernethy. the steward of the Meth
odist mission, was Elected Governor in
1845. and by re-election continued to
be Governor until the arrival of Gen
eral Joseph Lane, the first Territorial
Governor, In 1849. The mission party
was the -strongest and most Influential
until after the territory wa3 organ
ized. Dr. McLoughlln was not originally
in favor of the Provisional Govern
ment. It was openly and avowedly
advocated ns being in favor of the
United States and against Great Brit
ain. Once started, without a trial, nl
one could know whero it would end.
Already some of tho Amorlcans had
denounced the Hudson's Bay Company
and Dr. McLoughlln. His loan of cat
tle had been misunderstood and de
nounced. Some of the Americans
seemed not to be aware that the Hud
son's Bay Company was lawfully in the
Oregon Country, under the conven
tions for joint occupancy. To aid or
assist the establishment of a govern
ment, owing exclusive allegiance to
the United States, would or might bo
disloyal to his country and be Injuri
ous or fatal to his company. By the
constitution or compact of the Provis
ional Government, as established In
1843, each officer was required to take
an oath or affirmation "to support the
laws of the territory." without quali
fication. There was, too. his land
claim at Oregon City, which the land
laws of the Provisional Government,
as established, sought to deprive him of.
and to give, at least a part of It. to
the Methodist mission.
Notwithstanding all that Dr. Mc
Loughlln had done and was then do
ing for the Americans in Oregon,
threats were made against tho Hud
son's Bay Company and Its property.
Dr. McLoughlln appealed to the direc
tors of his company for protection of thMr
property, but none came. In June. 1S4I.
he received an answer from his company
that it could not obtain protection from
the British government, and It must oro
tect Itself the best It could. It looked as
though there might be war In Oregon.
In 1S45 the provisional government at
tempted to extend its Jurisdiction north
of the Columbia River. It was a question
or acquiescence or actual opposition hv
the Hudson's Bay Company. Jesse Appl-
gate, ono of the best and noblest of Ore-
gon's pioneers, who was a member of tli-
Legislature and one of a committee, priv
ately interviewed Dr. McLoughlln. After
consulting James Douglass, his chief as
sistant, a compromise was finally agreed
to by which, the Hudson's Bay
Company would be taxed only on
goods sold to tho settlers. The
Hudson's Bay Company with all the
British residents, became parties to th--Oregon
Provisional Government. August
15, 1S45. The oath of office as provided h
me compact or is4& nas Deen changed i
what Is called the "Organic Act" of the
provisional government, adopted by the
people, by popular vote, July 26. IS 15. A
so amended the oath of office required
each officer to swear that he would "sup
port tho organic laws of the provisional
government of Oregon, so far as said or
ganic laws are consistent with my duties
as a citizen of the United Status, or a
subject of Great Britain."
Tho land law of 1843 was also changed
by said vote of the people, July 26, 1S45. b
which tho objectionable features, so far
as Dr. McLoughlln's land claim at Oregon
City was concerned, were largely elimi
nated. Under the circumstances this
joining was a good and wise move on the
part of Dr. McLoughlln. But he was se
verely criticized therefor by his company
A few days after. Dr. McLoughlln. for
himself and company, had thus joined the
provisional government, he was surprised
by the arrival from Puget Sound of Lieu
tenant William Peel. sou of Sir Robert
Peel, and Captain Park. oB the Royal Ma
rines, with a letter from the Captain o'
the British 50-gun hhlp of war America,
then in Puget Sound, and also a letter
from Admiral Seymour, commanding the
British fleet, that firm protection would
be given British subjects In Oregon. Sub
sequently the British war sloop Modeste.
IS guns, arrived at Fort Vancouver, whero
she remained until tho boundary treaty
of 1S46 was entered into.
The Immigrations of 1842-1 8-15.
In 1S42 came tho Immigration of that
year, which is now counted the first real
Immigration of American settlers to "Ore
gon, I believe, however, that the Immi
gration of 1S43 should be called the first
Immigration of Oregon home settlers. But
that question Is not material in this ad
dress. The number of the Immigrants of
1S42 was about 123. Of this number about
63 were men, over IS years of age. These
Immigrants left their wagons at Fort Hall
and used pack horses. They camo from
Tho Dalles to Oregon City, overland, by
the Indian trail which passed near Mount
Hood.
Many of the Immigrants of 1S42 becam
discontented. Dr. McLoughlln engaged
many to labor at fair wages, and fur
nished goods on credit to those wito cou.
not make immediate payment. Some of
these immigrants were of a roving or ad
venterous class, ever seeking new places.
In the Spring of 1S43 nearly half of these
Immigrants went to California. leaving on
their Journey May 30, from Champoeg.
Dr. McLoughlln furinshed theso Immi
grants to California with supplies, upon
their promise to pay for the same to W.
G. Rae, the Hudsons Bay Companys agent
at San Francisco. Most of them did not
pay, and Mr. McLoughlln personally as
sumed the payment of this Indebtedness
(To be continued.)
A. Queer Language.
The English language Is queer.
Thus. E-R-E does not spell EAR.
But It spells AIR. and then we are
Puzzled again by A-I-R-
And when we've learned that this spells
ahi.
We find another word called HEIR!
Then C-O-W spells COW.
But L-O-W Isn't LOW.
But we pronounce that word as though'
It 'were spelled like a word called DOUGHt
If I could make the English speech
I'd make It easier to teach.
I'd make it all so simple that
It would be like C-A-T CAT!