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VOL. XVIII
OREGON PIONEER HISTORY.
SKETCHED OF EARLY DAYfl.-MEN AN.
TIMES IN THE FORTIES.
II V S. A CLAUKK.
Copyright applied lor. All rights rcrt J.
NUMI1KII XXV.
v. Social Enjoyments in 1840.
Tlicro was somo social enjoyment in
the wilderness oven then. In Whito'a
narratives, compiled by Miss Allen, ho
tolls how about 1010 thoy receivod visits
from frionds. Itov. Sir. Heaver and wife
of Vancouvor, mado them a visit, ns did
Dr. McLoughlin, which visits involved a
canoo jotirnoy down tho Columbia, up
tho Willamette to the falls, a porlago
thcro and about fifty or sixty miles of
rivor abovo tho falls to Champoog, thon
ton or twolvo miles on horsoback to Dr.
"While's homo. Dr. McLoughlin and
tho Bcavor family wore well educated
and intellectual people, and thoso visits
gavo satisfaction for many roasons. Also
Dr. Marcus Whitman spent somo days
with thorn, and his viaitswcro a great
pleasure, as ho gavo so much Informa
tion concerning his methods with tho
Indians. McLoughlin brought his wifo
and family, bed and boddiug, tea, coffee,
eugar, bread, cakes, cheese, moat, wine,
and ovory thing good for a camp trip.
Thoy had many servants, also tents and
-cquippngo, a good cook, and as ploaeant
and delightful niannora as over invaded
a wildorncss. Tho doctor was exceed
ingly ploasant company, and ho was
ablo to "sink tho ship" whon ho wont
pleasuring as thoroughly ns if ho had
not a caroor responsibility, Instead of
boing at tho head of an (tumenso com
pany with hundreds to pl.t n for and an
imtnonso business to watch over and
direct. His delightful miinnor was tho
charm of overy company ho was part of.
If wo compnro tho present and tho past
wo rcducd to a briof journey by rail, in
very luxurious care, what was thou an
opisodo in ono's life, taken us a pleasure
trip. Even at tint worst tho present
consists of making a pleasant summer
day jonrnoy by tho rivers, in comfort
ablo Btoamcrs, and tho portago of tho
falls is replaced by a delightful possago
through tho canal and locks that now
surmount tho obstacles naturo planted
thoro, seemingly so impregnable.
Mies Allen gives 11 description of a
company of tho Hudson Bay peoplo re
turning from a trading and trapping ex
pedition that in charmingly dono and
pictures to tho lifo tho way thews expo
dltious were equipped and managed.
Bho says : "They start in tho spring for
California, carrying merchandise for
barter with tho natives, and return laden
with furs, principally of tho beaver and
otter. Tho company, just boforo enter
ing tho settlement, which was early in
tho morning, stopped to romovo from
thoir persons stains and traces of travel,
and dress themselves carefully in their
best attire. Thoy then formed them
selves in Indian file, led by Mr. LaFrom
boy, tho chief of tho party, Noxt him
rodo his wife, a nativo woman, astride
as is common with tho fomales upon
her pony, quite picturesquely clad. Sho
woro a man's hat, with long whito foath
ors fastened in front and drooping grace
fully behind. Hor short dress was of
rich broadcloth, loggings beautifully
embroidered with gay beads and fringed
with tiny bells, whoso delicate, musical
tinkling could bo hoard several hundred
yards distant. Next tho clerk and his
wifo, much in the same mannor, and so
on (o the officers of loss importance, and
tho men, and finally tho boys driving
tho pack horses, with bales of fur, ISO
pounds to each animal. Tho trampling
of the fast walking horses, tho silvery
tinkling of the small bells, rich, hand
some dresses and tho appearance of the
riders, whoso numbers amounted to GO
or 70. Tho array was really patriarchal
and had quito an imposing appearance."
Tli Plonwr PrlaUac Office. -Miss
Allen is vory remiss in giving
dates. We find a letter dated in 1838,
BSr . . Tn -v . C " -A - S5fe K
Jix o yiGiii Vi6X
SALEM, OREGON, FRIDAY,
from tho Sandwich Islands, and supposo
it to havo been 1839 or 1810 that sho
mentions tho arrival of E. O. Hall and
wifo, from tho Sandwich Islands, who
brought as a present from tho Islanders
a small printing press, and material.
Hall instructed them in tho printing art
and returned. His trip was inadbfor
his wifo's honltli, which was much im
proved. This printing press, if wo aro
not mistaken, was tho ono aftonvard
used for tho publication of tho Spectator
tho first nowgpapor published in Oro
gou, if not on tho 1'acillc slope
In June, 1810, Jtov; Jason Loo return
oinfrom f wo years' nbsonco in tho states
with a largo reinforcement of mission
arm?. Mrs. Loo had died in his absonco
and thoy anticipated his intenso griof
returning to tho scenes whoro thoy had
workod so happily togothcr. But thoir
sympathy was needless, ns at tho head
of tho list of now arrivals stood "Mr.
and Mrs. Jason Leo," for ho had consol
ed himsolf with a second wife. Tlicro
woro fifty-two of tho now arrivnla and
thoy were portioned off to different parts
of tho country to found now missions
or recruit old ones.
now the Willamette Mission Originated.
In Miss Alton's book concerning Dr.
Whi(o it is stated that Rev. Jason Leo
originally camo out to teach tho Flat
heads. Tho pathetio story is told of
four Flathead Indians making thoir way
oast to SU Louis, to ask that "somo man
who know Jesus Christ's God," should
go to their country and toach thorn a
true religion. This story is said to bo
foundod on tho fact that Capt. Bonne
villo and Lewis and Clarko whon pass
ing through tho country found that
tribo to bo vory superior in character to
most of tho savages, and gavo thorn
some instructions and advised them to
learn something of tho Christian re
ligion. Thoy rocoived from thoso trav
elers somo ideas of tho truo religion and
wanted to acquiro moro. Among tho
trappers wero two or threo who wero
religious men. Jcddcdiah Smith wan
ono of these, and thoy no doubt acquir
ed somo further information from thoso
men. Certain it is that tho tribo eont a
delegation oast, whoso mission oloctrifiod
tho civilized world and led to tho estab
lishing of all tho Protestant missions of
early times in Oregon, which meant
thou all of tho United States torritory
west nf tho Hooky mountains.
Dr. White's volumo, compiled by Miss
Allen, gives this statement : That the
first Mothodist mission was intendod for
tho Flathoads, but leaving thorn fur to
the right, "went on to tho'Willamctto, to
winter thoro beforo proceeding to his
destination. Ho found a mild, equablo
cllmato, and society though small, of
whites, moro congonial to his habits than
anything ho could oxpoct in tho section
to? which ho had been sent. Thinking
that ho had discovered signs of tho col
ony becoming an oxtcusivonnd valuable
Hold of useful ncs, and that tho flatheads
had less claim for missionary effort than
had been supposed, ho determined to
assumo the responsibility and commonco
a mission on tho Willamotto. Ho di
rected hfs principal energies to bear for
the promotion of tho interests of tho
whito population, tho results of which
havo been seen in tho erection of mills,
etc., and through this influenco also a
perfect form of provisional government
has been established and enforced for
years. Dr. Whito'a book, wo aro quot
ing from was published in 1818 and gives
viows abovo taken. Tho M. . mission
was very influential in both settling and
civilizing Orogon.
Disappearance of Willamette Indians.
Dr. Whito credits tho Presbyterian
mission with greatly benefitting tho In
dians. Tho Dalles miuion was con
ducted on tho saino principle pursued
by Dr. Whitman and his associates, as
it oponod farms for tho natives aB well
as taught their children in schools.
Whilo tho Willamette originally con
tained many bands of Calipooias, num
bering 5,000, thcBO woro suddenly swopt
away in great part by disease, chiefly
aguo and measles, that wero almost in
variably fatal undor nativo trcatmont.
So tho thousands dwindled to hundreds,
and tho fow who remained by associa
tion with degraded whites becomo infect
ed with other diseases that polluted tho
blood and caused f tirthor decrease. So
that when tho mission was ready to bo
conio usoful to tho Indians, thoro wero
fow left to instruct, and thoy wero de
graded and contaminated. By this timo
tho whites wero becoming numerous,
and tho country was assuming condi
tions that required missions for tho
proper instruction and improvement of
whites and thoir children. It cannot bo
donicd that tho M. . mission was prov
identially planted whero it was groally
boncficlal, and did good work for
Oregon.
Exploring the Umsq.ua.
Tho arrival of tho largo roinforcomont
gavo moans to establish mission stations
at Nisqually, on tho sound, nnd in tho
Umpqua, as well as to strengthen that
at Tho Dalles. I infor that in 1810, a
mission party went south to oxploro for
a good mission station in Umpqua. Thoy
wero Jason Loo, Gustavus Hincs, who
was to havo ohargo of tho new station,
and Dr. Whito, with an attendant. In
two days thoy roached tho hoad of this
valloy, which was now torritory to thorn
all. Thoro woro no huntors thcro then,
and thoistroams showed signs of bouvcr
and ottox, wild fowls woro plonty, and
"hords of dcor woro scampering over tho
beautiful plains." Ovor in tho Umpqua
they found a Hudson Bay Company
fort, consisting of pickets enclosing neat
houses, and a cultivated farm. Leo and
Hines found their way to tho coast; Dr.
Whito returned homo, taking with him
an Umpqua lad ho had rodcomed from
slavery, who acted as interpreter. Thoy
had camped for tho night, and about
Bimriso wero awakened by tho approach
of n small band of Indians who woro
pcacably inclined. This incident pos
eossos groat interest, when understood,
for theso proved to bo a small company
of Christianized Umpqiuis, whoso loader
was a chief.
His story was that six yoars boforo ho
was pursuuded to accompany a trapping
company to California. Ono of this
party was moro sodatothan tho rest, and
at tho close of each day rotired by him
self to ropoat his dovotions. From him
ho had learned tho groat truths of tho
Christian faith and learned to pray and
was taught many (to him) strango
truths. For whilo 1i!b pooplo wero
strangely impressed with tho new theory
and became changed by it, but gradual
ly it had worn off until thoy six wero tho
only ones who had kept tho faith.
Having learned that missionaries wero
looking for a placo to locato thoy had
gono in search, and finally had followed
tho trail thoy mado and had overtaken
them. Ho hoped all pooplo would gain
moro knowlodfro and havo God's lovo
shine in their hcait onco moro. This
was a strango oxperionco to meet with
in tho then wilds of Umpqua. Dr.
Whito gavo them all tho information
and instruction ho could and invited
thorn to visit tho mission. Boforo thoy
separated tho littlo company knelt in
prayer and tho children of tho wilds
listened with emotion as thoy joined
in worship, crossing themselves devoutly
for thoir first instructor was a Catholic.
To Dr. Whito tho incident was affecting
and ho remembered tho spot as hallow
od ground.
As Dr. Whito ond Jason Ico differed
in their views of mission work, Dr. Whito
withdrew, and witli his family returned
oast whero ho remainod a year or so,
when a friond persuaded him to go to
Washington and givo information con
cerning Oregon, us Oregon matters wero
thon pending. Ho did so, and it result
ed in his returning to Oregon with a
commission as sub-Indiau ugont for all
the country west of tho Itocky moun
JULY 9, 1886.
tains. Ho roturncd to Oregon overland,
leaving his family in Now York state,
accompanied by tho threo McKay boys
Aloxandor, William, and Johnwho
had bcon thoro siv years at school.
Mcdorutn Crawford was anothor mom
bor of tho company. Dr. Whito visited
I'lalto City and county and somo parts
of Jackson county, around Indepen
dence, and created what interest ho
could in raising n company. Parties
camo in from Illinois, Arkansas and
Missouri, so that by tho middle of May,
1812, tho first immigration of note, con
sisting of 112 persons, was ready to tako
road. A sciontific corps was appointed
consisting of C. Lancastor, L. W. Hast
ings and A. L. Lovojoy. Jamos Contci
was pilot, and Nathaniel Crocker, secre
tary. Mr. Lancastor rccclyod bad nows
that compelled him to turn back, but ho
camo afterwards, and now rcsidos in
Washington territory.
A Variety of Fruit. ,
Crostok, Or., July 0, 1880.
Editor Willamette Farmer t
Tho use nnd hcalthfulnoss of frultn
cannot bo denied. Tears, apples, prunes,
ponchos, nectarines, apricots, almonds,
chorrics, etc., to say nothing of walnuts,
hiokorynuts, pecans, chestnuts, mulber
ries, and that best of all fruits, tho
strawborry. All tho abovo fruits grow,
moro or less, to perfection in tho Wil
lamotto valloy. All persons who own
land cun by a littlo outlay nnd euro,
havo an abundance of these various
fruits. I know this to bo so, for I havo
thorn on my placo. You will say, "fow
pooplo havo a tasto for growing fruits,"
and, "porhaps somo do not know how,"
others aro "rostor lazy." You will also
say "fruit dont pay." I answor thoso
questions by asking you a singlo ono :
"Do all lovo to oat fruits!" If thoy do,
thon is it not worth whilo to grow
thorn?" If all who aro dcstltuto of
fruits I moan all who own land woro
asked "why thoy havo nono?" and you
worn to spoil tho word 1-a-z-y to thorn
would thoy not winch! Wo can havo
nothing valuable without labor. Labor
is a means to an ond ; tho ond is fruit.
If thou wo doiiro fruit we mut sot in
active causes j thoso causes produco of
feels, the rll't'cU culminate in rich, rare,
healthful and beautiful fruit. Thn noil
must In) well cultivated, tho weeds kept
down and tho trooj kept woll pruned.
Common senso toaohes thoso ; common
Bcnso leads to success; and, there is
nothing so successful as buccosh. To
succeed is tho ond, tho main ond of lifo.
An unsuccessful lifo is an abortion.
Kxcusos aro poor and only show tho ex
cusing power. A bold, bravo, onorgotio
and determined course is tho only truo
ono.
Fruit growing, liko' any other profes
sion, and it is a noblo profession, tho
noblo ono, has, and over must havo, its
dark and its bright sido. It takes years
to grow trees, years of patlont labor,
yoars of patient waiting, years without
remuneration; but, tho romuuoratlou
comes, though deferred, looms in hopo'a
bright horizon, and wo havo only to
roach forth and tho priso is won.
"Hlcli, and splendid
The victory Is ours."
Thoro is something noblo in conquer
ing and
"Going forth to conquer,"
As a profession fruit-growing must bo
studied as ono would law. Tho student
of law pours ovor Blackstone, Kent,
Story, Chity, Itusol, Vattel, and tho
varioiiB reports of tho judiciary of tho
sovorul Btates, ho, too, tho fruit-grower
should read Lindloy, Downing. Colo,
Barry, Thomas, Elliot, Fullor, Hendor
son, and tho various reports of horti-
cultural, and agricultural societies of
tho sovcral States. He should read tho
many oxcellont periodicals on these
scionccs as, tho Agriculturist, tho
Country Gentleman, tho Rural Now-
I Ynrknr. Pratrio Farmer. Coleman's
Rural World, also tho New York Trin
"tf
NO. 23.
buo, Sun, Herald, with other great news
papers. Many of our host papers now
havo a horticultural and agricultural
department edited by men of acknow
ledge ability. This is a splendid improve
tnont. On my present farm I havo five.
It took mo ton years "to win tho prize,"
but I havo won. Now I havo ono hun
dred mulberry trees, ono hnndrod chest
nutB.tcn Kuglish walnuts, threo hundred
prunes, ono hundred plums also pcara,
apples, poaches, ncctarinos, apricots, u
fine vineyard, and thousands of "God's
best fruit," tho strawberry, also one him
drod insignificant chorry trees, with
asparagus, pieplant, gooabcrries, our
rants, blackberries, otc. Au imtnonso
variety in fruits renders homo delightful,
happy, healthful. Man is an omniv
orous cater, honco a varioty suits him,
his "other half" and tho "littlo fellows."
When wo aro blessed with intolligoncc,
qnorgy and moral power, "this is a lovely
world of ours." But with tho lazy, tho
indolent, tho careless, llfo's cup holds
only "bitter dregs, and raro disappoint
ments." Tho Willamotto, uostlcd among
tho mountains, whoso sides aro covered
with immeuso forests, dark, and darkly
green, and cloud shaped peaks, flung on
high and glittering in tho sun's effulgent
beams; with valloys hero, undulating
hills thcro; groves of deciduous and
ovcrgreons, mingling in tho scono ; tho
beautiful rivor with its tributaries
meandering through valos and hills,
onammclcd with a carpot of grcou ; a
soil unsurpassed, a cllmato unequalod,
a homo for man. And all wo need to
do is labor and bo happy.
Coming to Oregon whon young, and
having boon horo ovor forty years, I
loved the country in MS, I havo loved it
all along, and I lovo it now, in '80. "It
is a beautiful land." My fathor'a bones
Ho hore, my daughter's bones llo hero,
my grand children's bones lio horo, and
horo, too, my bones shall llo forever.
A. F. Davidson.
Weather Report for June, 1S86.
Kola, July 1, 1880.
KJltor Willamette I'armnn
During Juno, 188(1, there wero 3
days during which ndu foil, with an
aggregato of 0.G8 in. of wator, thoro were
0 clear, 10 fair and ft cloudy days, other
than thoso on which rain fell.
Tho mean temperature for the mouth
war. 01.50 deg.
Highest dally mean tomionUuro for
tho mouth, 71 dog. on tho 2d.
Lowest daily mean temperature for ths
month, Til deg. on tho 11th.
Mean temeraturo for tho month at
2 o'clock l'.u., 71.13 dog.
Highest temperature for tho mouth, 83
at 2 p. m. on tho .Id.
Lowest tempcraturo for tho month, CO
deg. at 0 l'. it. on tho 11th.
Tho prevailing winds for tho month
wero from the north during 18 days,
south 11 days, southwest ono day,
During Juno, 1885, thcro wero
8 rainy days, and 1.40 in. of water, -t
clear, 10 fair and 8 cloudy days.
Mean temperature for tho month,
f9.27 deg.
Highest daily mean temperature for
tho month, 07 deg., on tho 28th.
Lowest daily mean temperature for
tho month M deg. on Jth,
T. Pkaiici.
A Fine Farm lor sale.
We havo had placed in our hands for
ealo a choico farm highly improved,
about four miles south of Salem. Tho
placo contains 120 acres, all of which J is
cleared. Thero is a growing crop of 62
acros, consisting of barley and wheat.
Thcro aro good buildings and an orchard.
This placo ylolded thirty bushels of
wheat por ncro last year. Apply soon
ond obtain a bargain. Prico $35 per
acre. tf
Farmer's Attention! It is a woll
known faot that tho man that buys tho
cheapest can afford to soil the cheapest.
That what'a tho matter with Port it
Son, Druggist, No. 100 State street.
Drug at Port's, 100 State street.