Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 25/Early Days on the Willamette

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Oregon Historical Quarterly, Volume 25
Early Days on the Willamette
Address by Binger Hermann
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4113330Oregon Historical Quarterly, Volume 25 — Early Days on the Willamette
​

THE QUARTERLY

of the

Oregon Historical Society

Volume XXV
DECEMBER, 1924
Number 4

Copyright, 1923, by the Oregon Historical Society

The Quarterly disavows responsibility for the positions taken by contributors to its pages.


EARLY DAYS ON THE WILLAMETTE

By FRED S. PERRINE

With the departure of the exploring expedition of Lewis and Clark, sponsored by President Thomas Jefferson, from Wood River or River Dubois on Monday, May 14, 1804, a new era began for that part of the United States northwest of the Mississippi River.

Prior to this time few white men had penetrated into this practically unknown land. A few trappers and fur traders had wandered into the country, but this was the first organized effort to explore the hitherto inaccessible territory west of the Rocky Mountains. From the members of this expedition we have our first record of the Multnomah or Willamette River. Both Capts. Lewis and Clark kept journals of this trip, and records were kept beside their official diaries.

Sergeant Charles Floyd kept a record of the trip from the start until Aug. 18, 1804, two days before his death which occurred Aug. 20, 1804, near the present Sioux City, Iowa.

Sergeant Patrick Gass's was the first record of the trip printed and was published in 1807, and it was not until seven years later that the Biddle edition of Lewis and Clark came out.

Sergeant John Ordway also kept a journal of the full ​trip, but it never came to light until the latter part of 1913, was then edited by M. M. Quaife and published by the Wisconsin Historical Society in 1916.

Sergeant Nathaniel Pryor's record of the expedition has never been found.

Of the privates accompanying the expedition at least three are supposed to have kept a record of the trip, Robert Frazier, Joseph Whitehouse, and very likely George Shannon. The only one which has yet been discovered is that of Joseph Whitehouse, dating from May 14, 1804, to Nov. 6, 1805.

When the expedition made its way down the Columbia, they passed unknowingly the mouth of the Multnomah, as they later called it. On their return, however, they ascended the Columbia to the mouth of the Sandy River, where they stopped a few days to replenish their larder.

We will let them tell us in their own words and their own peculiar orthography about the Multnomah.

(Lewis) Wednesday, April 2, 1806:

* * * "about this time several canoes of the natives arrived at out camp and among others one from below which had on board eight young men of the Sha-ha-la nation these men informed us that 2 young men whom they pointed out were Cash-hooks and resided at the falls of a large river which discharges itself into the Columbia on its South side some miles below us. we readily prevailed on them to give us a sketch of this river which they drew on a mat with a coal, it appeared that this river which they called Mult-no-mah discharged itself behind the Island which we called the image canoe Island and as we had left this island to the S. both in ascending and decending the river we had never seen it. they informed us that it was a large river and run a considerable distance to the South between the mountains. Capt. Clark determined to return and examine this river accordingly he took a party of seven men and one of the perogues and set out ½ after 11 A. M. he hired one of the Cashhooks, for a birning glass, to pilot him to the entrance of the Multnomah river and took him on board with him."

​(Clark) Wed., April 2, 1806. * * * "about this time several canoes of the nativs arrived at our Camp among others two from below with Eight men of the Shah-ha-la Nation those men informed us that they reside on the opposit side of the Columbia near some pine trees which they pointed to in the bottom South of the Dimond Island, they singled out two young men whome they informed us lived at the Falls of a large river which discharges itself into the Columbia on its south side some miles below us. we readily prevailed on them to give us a sketch of this river which they drew on a Mat with a coal, it appeared that this river which they call Mult-no-mah discharged itself behind the Island we call the image canoe island, and as we had left this island to the south in decending & assending the river we had never seen it. they informed us that it was a large river and runs a considerable distance to the south between the Mountains. I deturmined to take a small party and return to this river and examine its size and collect as much information of the nativs on it or near its enterance into the Columbia of its extent, the country which it waters and the nativs who inhabit its banks, &c. I took with me six men, Thompson J. Potts, Peter Crusat, P. Wiser, T. P . Howard, Jos. Whitehouse & my man York in a large Canoe, with an Indian whome I hired for a Sun glass to accompany me as a pilot, at half past 11 AM I set out * * * *and at the place I had supposed was the lower point of the image canoe island, I entered this river which the nativs had informed us of, called Multnomah River so called by the nativs from a nation who reside on Wappato Island a little below the enterance of this river. Multnomah discharges itself in the Columbia on the S. E. and may be justly said to be % the size of that noble river. * * from the enterance of this river, I can plainly see Mt. Jefferson which is high and covered with snow S. E. Mt. Hood East, Mt. St. Helians (and) a high humped mountain (Mt. Adams) to the East of Mt. St. Helians.

​S. 30° W. 2 miles to the upper point of a small island in the middle of Moltnomar river, thence

S. 10° W. 3 miles to a sluce 80 yards wide which devides Wappato Island from the main stard side shore passing a willow point on the Lard. side.

S. 60° E. 3 miles to a large Indian house on the Lard side below some high pine land, high bold shore on the Starboard side, thence S. 30° E. 2 miles to a bend under the high lands on the Stard Side passing a Larboard

10 point.

thence the river bends to the East of S East as far as I could see. at this place I think the width of the river may be stated at 500 yards and sufficiently deep for a Man of war or ship of any burthen."

(Clark) Thursday, April 3rd, 1806:

"The water had fallen in the course of last night five inches. I set out and proceeded up a short distance and attempted a second time with my cord of five fathom but could find no bottom, the mist was so thick that I could see but a short distance up this river. When I left it, it was bending to the East of S. E. being perfectly satisfyed of the size and magnitude of this great river which must water that vast tract of Country between the western range of mountains and those on the sea coast and as far S. as the Waters of California about Latd 37. North. I deturmined to return. ***** I provailed on an old man to draw me a sketch of the Multnomar River and give me the names of the nations resideing on it which he readily done, and gave me the names of 4 nations who reside on this river two of them very noumerous. The first is Clark-a-mus nation reside on a small river which takes its rise in Mt. Jefferson and falls into the Multnomar about 40 miles up. this nation is noumerous and inhabit 11 towns, the 2nd is the Cush-hooks who reside on the N. E. side below the falls, the 3rd is the Char-cowah who reside above the Falls on the S. W. side neither of those two are noumerous. The fourth Nation is the Cal-lar-po-e-wah which is very noumerous ​& inhabit the country on each side of the Multnomar from its falls as far up as the knowledge of those people extend."

This map made by the old Indian and reproduced in Thwaite's edition of Lewis and Clark, shows the mouth of the Clackamas forty miles above the mouth of the Willamette, and the falls of the Willamette twenty miles above the mouth of the Clackamas.

(Ordway's Journal) Wednesday, 2nd of April, 1806:

* * * the natives informed our officers that their is a large River comes in on the South Side Some distance below quick sand River which we had not Seen So Capt. Clark & 6 men Set out with a canoe to go and examine the sd River, took an Indian along for a guide.

Thursday 3rd of April, 1806:

* * * in the evening Capt Clark & party returnd to Camp and informed us that they had been and took a view of the River which the Indians informed us of and that it is a verry large River & is 500 yd wide and is supposed to head with the waters of the California, they went 7 miles up sd River, their guide informed them that a large nation lived up the fork of this River by the name of Clackamus Nation of 30 towns, and that another Nation lives along distance up this River where it gits small by the name of Callap-no-wah Nation who are verry numerous."

From the Journal of Patrick Gass we glean the following:

"Friday April 4, 1806. * * * * Captain Clarke got information that a large river came in on the south side of the Columbia, about 40 miles below this place, opposite a large island, which had concealed it from our view; and went down with six men to view it. He found it to be a very large river, 500 yards wide, with several nations of Indians living on it; and its source supposed to be near the headwaters of some of the rivers which fall into the gulph of California." ​It has been a popular tale that Lewis and Clark discovered the Falls of the Multnomah, but their records as above, disprove this fallacy.

With the passing of Lewis and Clark, the name of the river changed from Multnomah to Willamette, for the next authorities, Gabriel Franchere,[1] Alexander Ross[2] and Ross Cox,[3] call it the Willamette.

In his "Narrative," published at Montreal in 1820, Franchere gives us the best and earliest record of the activities of the Pacific Fur Company on the Willamette. Ross Cox follows with his "Adventures on the Columbia River" in 1831, while Alexander Ross' "Adventures of the First Settlers on the Oregon or Columbia River" was not published until 1849.

From Franchere we glean more facts than from either of the others. The first record regarding the Willamette ​states that on May 2, 1811, a party consisting of Alexander McKay[4] and Robert Stuart,[5] partners, and Ovide de Montigny[6] and Gabriel Franchere, clerks, together with a Clatsop chief, Coalpo, set out for a trip up the Columbia. On May 6, 1811, they passed for the first time the mouth of the Willamette. Coalpo informed them that about a day's journey up this river there was a considerable fall, beyond which the country abounded in deer, elk, bear, beaver and otter.

No further record regarding the Willamette occurs until after a lapse of six months, when on Nov. 10, 1811, three of the Canadian boatmen deserted and were captured by the chief of a tribe of Indians on the Willamette. They were not located until Nov. 18th, when a ransom was paid for them and they were taken back to Astoria, where the party arrived the 24th.

No doubt the Willamette country had been discussed pro and con, for on Dec. 5,1811, Robert Stuart, (partner), ​Francis Benj. Pillett,[7] and Donald McGillis,[8] clerks, and a few of the men, accompanied by a guide, set out for the Willamette, which the Indians had told them abounded in beaver. On this trip they were accompanied by Mr. Regis Brugiere,[9] who had arrived overland from Canada, and who expected to follow his vocation of trapping.

How long this party remained up the Willamette we cannot tell, as there is no mention of their coming back, or of the results of their trip. All we know, however, is that Robert Stuart and McGillis were back in Astoria prior to March 30, 1812. They evidently had a successful trip, and made reports that warranted a further exploration of the Willamette, for on April 1, 1812, Donald ​McKenzie[10] started with William W. Matthews[11] and five or six men as hunters, to make an excursion up the Willamette. How long this party remained is only a matter of conjecture, as we have no record of the trip, its duration, or the amount of territory covered. We only know that McKenzie went up the Willamette till he reached its East fork, which is now called the McKenzie River.

He returned, however, before June 29 or 30, 1812, for on one of these dates he set out for the Snake River, where he established a post near the mouth of the Payette, which was later called Fort Boise. ​j. Ill 11 Mini I i 304 FRED S. PERRINE By the end of the year 1812, provisions were begin- ning to get low at Astoria, and as the valley of the Wil- lamette was a veritable hunter's paradise, a party headed by William Wallace 12 and J. C. Halsey 13 started for there on November 23, 1812. This party consisted of the two clerks mentioned above and fourteen men, and was sent for the express purpose of establishing a trading post on the Willamette. On the 15th of January, 1813, McKenzie, who had abandoned his establishment on the Payette, arrived at Astoria, and brought the news that war had been declared between the United States and Great Britain. This caused no end of excitement at Astoria, and led the Astorians to believe that the supply ship which they were expecting, would not arrive. The supply of provisions was very short, and now their numbers had been augmented by 12 William Wallace, clerk, Canadian, sailed on the Tonquin Sept 6, 1810, arrived at Columbia River March 22, 1811 . Left for Willamette with Halsey November 23, 1812 . Explored the Willamette for approxi- mately 500 miles, according to Ross Cox. Built the first house on the Willamette on this trip, which was situated not over 25 miles above Newberg, Ore., on the Willamette. Returned to Astoria May 25, 1813. Early in Sept., 1813, off with McKenzie for the interior. Left Fort George April 4, 1814. Nearly drowned May 25, 1814. Early in June, 1814, was at Moose Lake, Canada. 13 J. C. Halsey, clerk, sailed on the Beaver October 10, 1811, arrived at Astoria May 10, 1812. Left for the Willamette with Wallace Nov- 23, 1812, returned to Astoria May 25, 1813. Left on the Pedlar April 2, 1814, and was left by Hunt at Sitka, Alaska. No further record of J. C. Halsey, but on June 24, 1837, a Mr. J. Halsey arrived at Fort Union orf the Steamboat Saint Peter, and was a victim of the smallpox. A Jacob Halsey, clerk and partner in the U. M. O ., (Upper Missouri Outfit) served mainly at Forts Pierre and Union. While he was a hard drinker, he was a valuable man. When he arrived at Fort Union in 1837 he was sick with the smallpox, the only case on the boat when it arrived at Fort Union. In order to prevent the spread of the disease, some of the virus from the body of Mr. Halsey was used to vaccinate about 30 squaws and a few white men, but as Halsey was not in good physical condition, the innoculation proved fatal to most of those who had been vaccinated. During the summer of 1842, while on a visit near Liberty, Mo., and while intoxicated, he was killed by being knocked from his horse while riding through the woods. His head struck one of the trees and he was instantly killed. There is every reason to suppose that this Jacob Halsey, and J. C . Halsey were one and the same person. ​EARLY DAYS ON THE WILLAMETTE 305 the arrival of McKenzie and his men. They were com- pelled to reduce the ration of each man to four ounces of flour and half a pound of dried fish per day, and it was even thought best to send some of the men to pass the rest of the winter with Wallace and Halsey on the Willamette, where game was plentiful. By this time Wallace and Halsey's party had spent some months on the Willamette, and had penetrated, according to Alex- ander Ross, "to the sources of that river, a distance of nearly 500 miles." Accordingly, this additional party, headed by John Reed 14 and Alfred Seton 15 started for the Willamette the latter part of January, 1813, to spend the rest of the winter. Reed and Seton returned to Astoria on the 20th of March, 1813, bringing with them a quantity of dried venison, and they described in glowing terms the wonders of the Willamette valley, and told of the abundance there of beaver, elk and deer. They also brought the news that Wallace and Halsey had built a dwelling and trading house on a great prairie, situated, according to Franchere, "about 150 miles above the mouth of the Willamette." 14 John Reed, clerk, Irishman, Overland Astorian, left St. Louis Oct 21, 1810, arrived Astoria January 18, 1812. Left Astoria March 30, 1812, with despatches for Astor. Was wounded in fight with the Indians, taken to Okanogan and returned to Astoria May 11, 1812. Led party to the Willamette latter part of January, 1813, and returned to Astoria March 20, 1813 . Brought the first news of the building of a post on the Wil- lamette by Wallace and Halsey. Went to Snake River in summer of 1813, and was there killed by the Indians sometime during that year. 15 Alfred Seton, clerk, sailed on the Beaver Oct. 10, 1811, arrived at Astoria May 10, 1812. With McKenzie to Snake River June 29 or 30, 1812. Returned to Astoria on January 15, 1813. Left for the Willamette latter part of January, 1813. Returned March 20, 1813, with news of the Wallace and Halsey Post. Left early in September, 1813, for the interior. Was on 'the Willamette with William Henry in January, 1814. Left on the Pedlar April 2, 1814. Captured by Spanish corvette "Santa Barbara" and was held prisoner for two months- Went to the Isthmus of Darien, where he was detained several months by sickness, finally reaching Carthagena. Reduced to poverty, he told his story to Capt Bentham of the British squadron who gave him a passage to Jamaica, from which place he managed to get to New York. Was in 1854 vice president of the Sun Mutual Insurance Co. He was the principal backer of Captain Bonneville's expedition. ft! „ygr ​m 306 FRED S. PERRINE This very evidently was a mistake on the part of Fran- chere, who intended to write "Columbia" instead of "Wil- lamette," as we shall presently see. On May 25, 1813, Wallace and Halsey and their party returned from the Willamette bringing with them the first results of the Astoria venture, seventeen packs of furs and thirty-two bales of dried venison. On the 7th of October, 1813, the Astorians were greatly surprised at the return of Donald McKenzie, from up the Columbia, escorted by two canoes bearing the British flag, and carrying Mr. J. G . McTavish and Angus Bethune of the N. W . Co. These gentlemen were in small canoes and formed the vanguard to a flotilla of eight canoes loaded with furs. This party consisted of seventy-five men in all, and among these was undoubtedly William Henry 16 of whom we shall hear later. We hear nothing more regarding the Willamette post until after the Pacific Fur Company was taken over by the N. W. Co. With the abandonment of Astoria by the Pacific Fur Co., and the coming of the Northwest Company, who named the place Fort George, we must look to another contemporary who gives the only detailed account of the happenings there until his death May 22, 1814. Alexander Henry the Younger, nephew of Alexander Henry the Elder, was a partner in the N. W . Co. He l 16 William Henry, clerk, cousin of Alexander Henry, the Younger. Was at lower fort on Swan River, near Lake Winnepegoosis on October 29, 1801, summered at Bird Mountain Fort in 1802, wintered 1802-3 -4 at Fort Alexandria, and summered there in 1804. Wintered on Red River in 1806. Was at Cumberland House July 4, 1810, and on Athabasca River winter of 1810-11. Undoubtedly arrived at Astoria in the party of J. G . McTavish and Angus Bethune on October 7, 1813. On November 17, 1813, was in charge of the post on the Willamette. Temporarily aban- doned this post March 21, 1814. The last note of him in Alex. Henry's journal was under date of May 18, 1814, when "there was a quarrel be- tween Mr. D . McTavish and Mr. William Henry." ​EARLY DAYS ON THE WILLAMETTE 307 arrived at Fort George November 18, 1813. His cousin, William Henry, was already in charge of the post on the Willamette on this date. Up until this time we have had no inkling of the lo- cation of this Willamette post, with the exception of the statement of Franchere that it was about 150 miles above the mouth of the Willamette. There cannot be the slight- est doubt but that he meant "Columbia" instead of "Wil- lamette," as we shall show later from the account which Henry gives of his trip up the river on a visit to this post. Two days after Alexander Henry's arrival at Fort George, a canoe arrived from the Willamette post with letters and seven elk, and on the following day a re- inforcement of ten men led by William Wallace set out for that place. From the time this post had been founded by Wallace and Halsey late in 1812 or early in 1813 it had furnished a large portion of the fresh meat and dried meat for the party at Fort George. At intervals canoes arrived from the Willamette with deer, elk, goat, bear, and wild fowl. On January 22, 1814, Alexander Henry set out for the Willamette post, and from him we get a very good description of its location and of his trip. It may possibly be best to let him tell his own story. "On January 22, 1814, I set out with Wm. Matthews and eight men,

  • * * started up the Willamette.

At four o'clock ran our canoe on a rock and tore a piece out of her bottom. * * * The channel then contracted, being bound in by high rocks and we had trouble in ascending some strong rapids. 17 It was dark before we saw the village on the S., near a small but rapid river on our left, called the Clukemus. 18 Shortly after passing this river we came abreast of this village, in hearing of the falls, 19 and saw six lights, which we supposed issued r These are now called the Clackamas rapids. s The Clackamas River. i Willamette Falls. is ​

  • M

n 308 FRED S. PERRINE from the same number of doors, the houses running ap- parently with the river. These Indians called Clowe- wallas are numerous. We put ashore on a steep, slippery bank of grass, where we could find no wood fit to make a fire, all of it being wet and green. Mr. Matthews crossed over to purchase dogs * * * Sunday, Jan. 23, 1814.Atdawnwewentuptothefalls, * * * didnot set out till 7 A. M ., unloaded on the right hand side and carried 600 paces over a rugged portage, hemmed in by a range of steep rocks, so close to the river as in some places scarcely to leave a passage, especially near the upper end where the men found it difficult to get the canoe through. * * * A little above the portage, on the spot where formerly a village stood, remains of the dead are still seen; this place is bounded by a high range of perpendicular rocks, over which now rushes a consider- able fall of water after the late heavy rains." "About a mile above the portage, on the right, a small but rapid stream comes in. 20 "About five miles above the falls we passed the last rocky islands and shores we saw on the river; one mile higher we passed a low willow island, 21 where the current became more slack and smooth. "At eleven A. M . we passed a small stream on the left, called by our people Pudding River. 22 "At 2 PM. noticed some wooden canoes on the left hand side, at the foot of a bank about 30 feet high, up which was a winding path. We, of course, supposed our people to have built somewhere near this place, though none of us knew exactly where they were. Ascending the hill and passing through a wood for 300 paces, I came to a delightful prairie, on which I saw a house about 150 paces off. This plain is about two miles long' and quarter of a mile broad; along the middle runs a rising ground from E. to W., on which the house is situated. Here I found Mr. Wm. Henry in charge. "Jan. 24, 1814. At twelve I crossed the river in com- pany with Wm. Henry, Stuart and Matthews to look for a proper place to build, about two miles further up the river, as the present situation is overflowed at high water, 20 Tualitin River. 21 Opposite New Era. 22 This is the Molalla River into which Pudding River flows. ​EARLY DAYS ON THE WILLAMETTE 309 although its level above low water is between 30 and 40 feet. We debarked, passed the range of wood adjoining the river, and came to the open country beyond. * * * The country is pleasant, thinly shaded with oak, pine, hard, alder, soft maple, ash, hazel, etc. At a short distance are ranges of grassy hills where not a stick of wood grows.

  • * * * This place is commodiously situated on a

bank about 100 feet above the river, where level country, thinly shaded by large oaks, extends to the foot of barren hills about three miles distant. On the one side runs a small stream, which would be about 200 yards from the fort; on the other stands a thicket of tall pine, very proper for building. * * * Here the Willamette bends to the S. W ., and Yellow River, whose course is visible, runs N. W . High lands and blue hills are seen in both these directions. We returned by an old Indian path through the woods along the river. * * * In three- quarters of an hour's hard walking we reached our canoe and crossed over. * * * This afternoon three Ameri- can freemen arrived from Mr. Wallace's house of last winter, which they left about nine o'clock this morning by land. From this record we get the location of the second post, and the approximate location of the first house or trading post built by the whites on the Willamette. In locating these two posts we must begin at the end of Alexander Henry's record of his trip, and work back. We will take his entry of Jan. 24, 1814, when he crosses the river to look for a proper place to build the third post: It was two miles up the river from Wm. Henry's house, and on the opposite side. It was on the bank of the river and about 100 feet above it. On one side a small stream 23 200 yards from the fort. The Willamette here bends to the Southwest, and Yellow River 24 , whose course is visible, runs Northwest. 28 Hess Creek, on U. S . G . S. map, Hess Branch. 24 Chehalem River.

  • m* ​FRED S. PERRINE

When Alexander Henry described this spot, he was de- scribing the site of the present saw-mill in the city of Newberg, Oregon. He returned by an old Indian trail which ran along the Willamette, and which was between it and Hess Creek, to where he had left the canoe, and crossed to William Henry's house. We now have the location of this house, the second built on the Willamette, about two miles below Newberg on the opposite side of the river, in Township 3 S., Range 2 West, Section 33. We can now return to the latter part of Henry's entry of Jan. 25,1814, as follows: "This afternoon three Ameri- can freemen arrived at Mr. Wallace's house of last winter, which they had left about nine o'clock in the morning by land." This first house was up • the Willamette from Wm. Henry's house. We will assume that it took these men from six to seven hours to make the distance between the two posts, and that they made about three miles an hour, which would be good traveling in a country where there were no roads, and very few trails of any kind. Under this assumption this would place the Wallace house about twenty miles up the east bank of the Willamette, somewhere near the present city of Salem. It is fair to assume that the first post built by Wallace and Halsey was only a temporary affair, and that on the arrival of the party headed by John Reed and Alfred Seton, who left Astoria the latter part of January, 1813, the second house was built. How long the post which Alexander Henry visited, and which was in charge of William Henry, was used by the N. W . Co., is problematical. There is no record or tradition that the third house was built on the present site of Newberg. ​EARLY DAYS ON THE WILLAMETTE 311 In 1816-17-18 the Indians were very troublesome and several battles with them occurred along the Willamette. Alexander Ross in "The Fur Hunters of the Far West," states that in 1816, "by the disasters of this trip every avenue was for the present shut up against our hunters in the Wallamitte" In time Peter Skene Ogden arrived on the Willamette and was one of the principal factors in pacifying the Indians. In 1821 the N. W. Co. merged with the Hudson's Bay Co., and the headquarters of the fur trade was later moved to Fort Vancouver. NOTE—In locating these, the first two posts built by the whites, the writer made several trips through this section in verifying the locations. On the 27th of May, 1924, went to Newberg, and interviewed Mr. Frank A. Morris, City Recorder, who located there when there was only one house in the place. After a long conversation and inspection of maps and records, we came to the conclusion that the place Alexander Henry and party decided on for the trading post was the site of the present saw mill on the Rogers D. L. C, just south of the west end of the bridge over the Willamette. The small creek mentioned by Henry is locally called Hess Creek, but shows on the U. S . G . S. map as Hess Branch. The old Indian trail followed this creek down to its junction with the WiHamette. Upon the advice of Mr. Morris, I drove across the river to a place about two and one-half miles north of Newberg, on the road to Champoeg. Here I called upon Mr. Frank Osborne, who has lived in this immediate vicinity since 1861. Mr. Osborne stated that in 1875, he assisted Mr. J. G . Eberhard in burning what was then left of the old post. What did not burn was thrown into the well which had been dug by the builders of the post Only the corners of the log house were then remaining and these logs were burned in order to clear the place for cultivation. The well was gradually filled up and at the present time only a depression about eight feet in diameter and three feet deep remains. Mr. Osborn states that a great many arrowheads and pieces of pottery have been ploughed up in mis field. He further said that the old Indian trail from the river to the old St Paul Mission passed within a few hundred feet of the old post, and that several years ago while ploughing, he turned up an old brass pistol, which he later gave to William Pratt of Oregon City. When he ploughed up this pistol it was as bright as if it had been polished, and he thought at first that he had found a piece of gold. This land on which the old post was located, was bought in the early days by J. G . Eberhard of one Despard, a Frenchman, who lived on it with his squaw. This whole prairie, with the ridge running from east to west, is still subject to overflow from exceptionally high water. It was overflowed in* 1861 and again in 1890. FRED S. PERRINE . ​312 FRED S. PERRINE BIBLIOGRAPHY History of the Expedition Under the Command of Captains Levois & Clark, Edited by Paul Allen. 1814. History of the Expedition Under the Command of Captains Levois & Clark, Edited by Elliott Coues. 1893 . History of the Expedition Under the Command of Captains Levois fif Clark, Edited by J. K. Hosner. 1902 . Original Journals of Levois & Clark. Edited by R. G. Thwaites. 1904. The Trail of Levois & Clark, by O- D. Wheeler, 1904. Henry-Thompson Journals. Edited by Elliott Coues. 1897. Forty Years a Fur Trader. Edited by Elliott Coues. 1898. History of the Northwest Coast 1 B H H Bancroft> i884.1886 . History of Oregon y J ^ Astoria, by Washington Irving, Var. Eds. Adventures on the Columbia River, by Ross Cox, 1831. Adventures of the First Settlers on the Columbia, by Alexander Ross, 1849. Fur Hunters of the Far West, by Alexander Ross, 1855. American Fur Trade of the Far West, by H. M . Chittenden, 1902. Journal of Patrick Gass, 1810. Ordvoay's Journal. Edited by M. M. Quaife, 1916. Narrative of a Voyage to the Northvoest Coast, bv Gabriel Franchere, 1854. Si 11

  1. ↑ Gabriel Franchere, born Montreal, Nov. 3, 1786. Signed on as Clerk for five years with Pacific Fur Co., May 24, 1810 - Left Montreal with Alex. McKay in canoe for New York, via Lake Champlain, July 26, 1810, arrived N. Y . Aug. 3, 1810. Sailed in Tonquin, Sept. 6, 1810, arrived Columbia River Bar March 22, 1811. Left Fort George April 4, 1814. Married early sweetheart in Canada in 1815. Reentered Astor's employ as Montreal agent in 1815. Few years later moved to Sault Ste. Marie, lived here for several years. Entered employ of Pierre Choteau, St. Louis, after liquidation of American Fur Co. Later removed to N. Y. Establshed a fur trading firm under his own name. Invited to Washington on Oregon question by Thomas H. Benton, in 1846. Died St. Paul, Minn., in 1863.
  2. ↑ Alexander Ross, born Scotland 1783. Left for Canada 1804. First man to join Astor's Pacific Fur Co., in May, 1810. Sailed in Tonquin, Sept. 6, 1810, arrived Columbia River, March 22, 1811. Served with Astor's Co., N. W . Co., and H. B . Co., west of Rocky Mountains till 1825, when he left for Red River where he located and where he died in 1856.
  3. ↑ Ross Cox, "the little Irishman," sailed on Beaver, Oct. 10, 1811, arrived Columbia River, May 10, 1812. Entered N. W . Co. service after sale of Pacific Fur Co. Left Ft George April 16, 1817, arrived Rocky Mountain House June 6, 1817, Ft. William Aug. 16, 1817. On Sept. 17, 1817, met his old Astorian friend, Donald McGillis, on the Ottawa River, and on the 19th met Francis Benj. Pillett, another Astorian at Lake of Two Mountains. Arrived at Montreal Sept. 19. 1817.
  4. ↑ Alexander McKay, partner in Pacific Fur Co., was Sir Alexander McKenzie's lieutenant on his voyage to the Pacific in 1793. Became partner in N. W . Co. in 1804, joined Astor's Pacific Fur Co. in 1810- Commander of the party which left Montreal July 26, 1810, traversing Lake Champlain and arriving in N. Y ., August 3, 1810. Sailed on Tonquin Sept 6, 1810, arrived at Columbia Bar March 22, 1811. Sailed on Tonquin for the North, and was killed in the Tonquin massacre at Newitty.
  5. ↑ Robert Stuart, partner in Pacific Fur Co., born in Scotland in 1784, educated in Paris, landed in Montreal in 1806, and entered the service of the N. W. Co. Joined Pacific Fur Co., sailed in Tonquin Sept. 6, 1810, arrived Columbia River March 22, 1811. Up the Willamette with Pillet and McGillis December 5, 1811. Returned overland in 1812 with despatches for Astor. Partner with Astor in Am. Fur Co., and was manager at Mackinac in 1819. Moved to Detroit in 1834. Served one term as State Treasurer, in 1840-41. Was thereafter Indian Agent for four years. Died in Chicago in 1848.
  6. ↑ Ovide de Montigny, joined Alex. McKay at Whitehall, N. Y., Aug. 3, 1810. Sailed on Tonquin Sept. 6. 1810, arrived at Columbia River March 22, 1811. Was selected by Alex. McKay to go North with him on the Tonquin, but begged off on account seasickness, thus escaping the massacre. On the Okanogan in 1811. Made trip to north branch of Fraser River with David Stuart in 1812. Was seen at Okanogan by Franchere in 1814. No further record.
  7. ↑ Francis Benjamin Pillet, a clerk, sailed on Tonquin Sept. 6, 1810, arrived at Columbia River March 22, 1811. Left Astoria with David Stuart for the interior July 23, 1811. Returned to Astoria October 5, 1811. Up the Willamette with Robert Stuart Dec. 5, 1811. Left Astoria June 29 or 30, 1812, with John Clarke's party to found Spokane House. Sent to Kootenai region with six men to oppose Nicholas Montour of the N. W. Co., with whom he fought a bloodless duel. Returned to Spokane House in May, 1813, and to Fort George January 7, 1814. Was at Oak Point on the Columbia in February, 1814. Again to the Willamette on April 4, 1814. Was settled at Lake of the Two Mountains, Ottawa River, Canada, in 1817. Was still living in Canada in 1854.
  8. ↑ Donald McGillis, clerk, a Canadian, sailed on the Tonquin Sept 6, 1810, arrived at Columbia River March 22, 1811. Left for the Willamette with Robert Stuart December 5, 1811- Left Astoria March 30, 1812, with Russell Farnham and party for the cache of the overland Astorians on the Snake River. Left for the interior with David Stuart on June 29 or 30, 1812. Returned to Fort George January 7, 1814. Left for the Willamette January 27, 1814. Returned March 25, 1814. Left Fort George April 4, 1814. Was settled on the Ottawa River below the Long Sault in 1817.
  9. ↑ Regis Brugiere, Canadian freeman, trapper and trader. Brought up in the service of the N. W. Co. Arrived Astoria Oct 5, 1811. Franchere knew him in Canada as a respectable country merchant. Had been a trader on the Saskatchewan, where he had lost his outfit. Turned trapper and had come into this region for beaver. Went up the Willamette wiA McKay and McGillis December 5, 1811. Was not listed by Alexander Henry as leaving' for the interior on April 4, 1814, or listed as among those remaining at Fort George.
  10. ↑ Donald McKenzie, partner, was in the N. W. Co. service until 1810, when he joined the Pacific Fur Co. Recruited men for this company in Montreal and Mackinac in July, 1810. Left Mackinac August 12, 1810, arriving St Louis Sept. 3, 1810. Left St. Louis Oct. 21, 1810, arriving at mouth of the Nodawa Nov. 16, 1810, and at Astoria January 18, 1812. Left for Willamette April 1, 1812. Left Astoria June 29 or 30, 1812, for Snake River, where he founded a post later known as Fort Boise, near the mouth of Payette River. Returned to Astoria January 15, 1813. Left for post on Snake River March 31, 1813. Returned to Astoria either June 11, 12 or 14, authorities differ. Left for interior Oct. 2, 1813, and returned on the 7th accompanied by J. G. McTavish and Angus Bethune of the N. W- Co. Left Fort George April 4, 1814. Reached Rocky Mountain House May 17, 1814, Pembina River June 1, 1814, and Fort William in July, 1814. Again at Fort William in 1816, at Fort George Sept. 30, 1816, and at Spokane House February 12, 1817; back at Fort George, and was ascending the Columbia and Snake Rivers in April and May, 1817. On the Columbia again 1819, on the Snake Sept. 10, 1819. in the Snake country again July 10, 1821. Established Chesterfield House on the Bow River in 1822. Was Chief Factor at Fort Garry on Red River in 1823, and was Governor of Assiniboia about eight years. Went to Mayville, N. Y., on Chautauqua Lake in 1833, and died there in 1851.
  11. ↑ William W. Matthews, clerk, was a New Yorker. Sailed on the Tonquin Sept. 6, 1810, arrived at Columbia River March 22, 1811. Left Astoria with Donald McKenzie for the Willamette April 1, 1812, with David Stuart on June 29 or 30, 1812, for the Okanogan, and with Alexander Henry for the Willamette January 22, 1814. Engaged with N. W. Co. as head foreman for two years at £125 per annum, on January 31, 1814. Took for wife daughter of Clatsop Chief Coboway, and their daughter Ellen, born in 1815, is the first recorded white child in Oregon. On February 26, 1814, examined Tongue Point as to its suitability for a post, and reported favorably on the same. On February 28, 1814, was sent with a party to clear away the under-brush at Tongue Point, preparatory to building a new post. Later returned to New York, where he died. His daughter was educated in the East, and married a wealthy citizen of Montreal.
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