Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 63/The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51

←

The Round Hand of George B. Roberts

Oregon Historical Quarterly, Volume 63

The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51

Letters to Mrs. F. F. Victor, 1878-83

→

4034217Oregon Historical Quarterly, Volume 63 — The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51

Cowelitz Farm Journal August 1847^[1]

August

Monday 23rd. Morning cool, midday very warm, air filled

Copy of Map of Cowelitz Farm

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

(Upload an image to replace this placeholder.)

MAP OF COWLITZ FARM as cultivated in 1845 and spring of 1846. Note that 1847 and 1848 crops are also indicated. (Photostat from Cartographic Branch,. National Archives, Record Group 76, Boundary and Claims Commissions and Arbitrations. U. S. and Great Britain, Hudson's Bay and Puget's Sound Agricultural Companies, Treaty of June 15, 1846.)

Cowlitz Farm Buildings

Put up in 1838, "the principal building, the dwelling of the agent" was "of hewed logs framed in the French style, clap-boarded on the outside, and lined and papered on the inside; the windows were from the Old Post at Fort George … … it was something like 50×30 feet, with an L one story high; the main building was two stories high. There were three or four other small dwellings, for different classes of servants … a very large granary 40×100 feet, three stories high…framed of large hewed timber and boarded on the outside…" There were stables,sheds for hogs and sheep, in all "some ten or twelve barns and sheds…a large gang sawmill…" (v. 2, P.S.A. Co. Ev., 27–28, 71, 75).

COWLITZ

Valuation of Buildings, Land &c at the Puget Sound Company's Establishment at the Cowelitz:

1 Dwelling House 50 × 30 ft ....... ? 450. 1 Saw Mill & improvements attached, incomplete .............. . 120. 1 Store 100 × 40 ft ....... 1,000. 1 do. 4o × 30 ft ....... 280. 1 do. 40 × 30 ft ....... 280. 1 Granary 25 × 20 ft ....... 125 . 1 do.30 × 20ft.......15O. £ 2,405.

Outbuildings

I Close Barn 8o x 25 ft ....... ? I6o. IBarnNo.I105x30ft..157.I0. Ido.2I05x20ft..05. Ido3Io5x20ft..I05. Ido4I05X20ft..105. Ido5IO5X20ft..05. Ido6I05x20ft..05. Ido7I05x20ft..los. Ido8I05x20ft..05. Ido9IO5X20ft..05. IdoI0I05x20ft..05. IdoII105X20ft..I05. Ido12Io5X20ft..I05. IdoI3IO5X20ft..05. 2 Piggeries ...... .. 2 Stables ...... 140 . 6 Men's Houses ...... I20. ? I,8I2.I0 . II8I8yds.fencing72000railssd @ pr. m. 67/6 243 I432 2 Acres of Land under cultivation @ I 00/- . .. £ 7,162.10. £ 7,405.10. £ 11,623.

(From inventory of Hudson's Bay and PSA Company properties south of the 49th parallel made in the winter of 1846–47 by Ogden and Douglas at Simpson's request. See Elliott, "British Values in Oregon, 1847," OHQ, XXXII:36.) with smoke, wind changed from North to WNW. The 15 cradles commenced to cut down the 30 acres of oats in field No. 25. Indians binding & carting in wheat—some pulling up flax. Mr. [Wm. F .] Tolmie^[2] left after breakfast for Nisqually, Mr. [James] Douglas^[3] & party after dinner for Ft Vancouver. With the assistance of Mr Douglas men we have cut down 220 acres of grain since Tuesday last.

Tenasman35 engaged to work on the farm at $6 pr month.

Tuesday 24th. Warm weather, strong westerly wind; air quite filled with smoke. There is a great deal of the surround ing country on fire. Commenced cutting our last field of Wheat No. 19. Indians binding carting oats-changing cattle & sheep pens. The indians have finished the salmon weir across the river opposite the farm; and altho the river is unusually high for the season & the water turbid, still they most unaccoun[t]ably cannot take a s[in]gle fish. (I pow is^[4]) engaged to work on the farm. Two lads began to cart out manure to day which operation is to proceed this fall Winter & Spring with the least possible interruption.

Wednesday 25th. Warm smoky weather, strong easterly wind. Cutting Binding & Carting Wheat from field No. 19. Counted the Band of ewes; there are 283 of the Cowlitz flock & 232 just received from Nisqually making 515 in all—there are still a number of the Old California Stock among them; began to park^[5] the sheep on the Coleseed. 2 Carts leading out manure upon field No 8 in order to clear out the shed for Wheat.

Flax is now all pulled. Changed sheep & Cattle pens, a party making up fences round grain sheds. Pigs have now the range of the fields. Indian Women collecting clover seed. Carrier^[6] fixing Kitchen.

Thursday 26th. Close sultry weather, smoke exceedingly dense, unable to see more than a few paces before us. Em ployed cutting binding & Carting Wheat from field No 19. Collecting & thrashing Clover seed. Received from Mr. Handcock^[7] 640 bricks for a new oven. 2 carts at the manure. 3 Nisqually lads at the well.

Friday 27th. Clam [calm] weather, smoke very very thick. Employed cutting & binding wheat-carting out manure thrashing clover seed making up fences round the different sheds. 3 Nisqually Indians digging well. Received from Mr. Handcock 430 bricks.

Saturday 28th. Clam weather—the plain still enveloped in dense smoke. Cutting & binding wheat which is barely ripe in field No 19. As there is no grain to cart in, set all the carts & spare indians to cart out manure upon field No 2. Cleared out Salmon & wheat store. Counted the flock of lambs; there are 49 Wether lambs & 54 ewe lambs. Began to serve out potatoes on rations to the men.

Sunday 29th. Light westerly wind, air filled with smoke.

Monday 30th. Smoke still very dense, light westerly breeze-cutting binding & carting wheat of field No I9. Indian Women collecting timothy, thrashing clover & &. Potatoes are now suffering for the want of rain, indians stealing them by wholesale in spite of a Watch; they are not ripe yet scar[ce]ly more than half grown. Sent over the river for horses to start three ploughs on the pea field tomorrow. 2 Carts leading out manure.

Tuesday 31st. Very close & smoky, light air from North and West-finished cutting & binding-employed cradlers & carters this afternoon hightening & making a secure fence round the large potatoe field. Women cleaning, collecting & thrashing timothy & clover seeds. Leclair39 & Kamaka40 making up fences round the sheds of grain. 2 Carts leading out manure. Plomondons41 new saw mill commenced operations.

[September, 1847]

Wednesday 1st. Close smoky weather, unable to see more than a few paces before one. Sent the 4 men who were lately ordered to be kept here to Vancouver that they may have an opportunity [of] getting their little traps here and bring up a batteux with salt, sundries & servants orders-accord ing to directions received from Mr Douglas. Employed much as yesterday, making secure fences round the potatoe fields. Indian harvest women collecting & thrashing clover & tim othy. The three indians at the well fortunately found abun dance of good water at the depth of 27 feet. Louis Leclair & harvest indians thrashing with the machine flax & self sown wheat.

Louis Leclair or Leclaire is listed as a laborer and middleman, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H.B.C. Arch. He went to work at Nisqually in February, 1850, was fired, June 1850. Nisqually Journal, WHQ, XI:145, 229. A Louis "Lecleine," probably a misreading of census taker Joe Meek's "Leclaire" is in the 1850 census for Lewis County. "Laborer" and "Middle man" were the lowest and next to lowest in the Company classification of employees (see Barker, McLoughlin Letters, 45). 40. Probably a Kanaka or Hawaiian Islander, classified as a laborer, 1847-50, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H.B .C . Arch. 41. Simon Plomondon (Plamondo, Plomondeau) was an old Company employee (see Barker, McLoughlin Letters, 321). Born in Canada, he retired from Company service in the late 1830s, and took a claim on the Cowlitz, the site of "Plomondon's Landing," located about a mile south of the present town of Toledo. See George F. Plamondon, "Simon Plamon don and the Early Northwest," in Cowlitz County Historical Quarterly, I (August, 1959); also Plomondon's testimony in v. 2, P.S .A. Co. Ev., 11-15. Thursday 2nd. The air has become rather clearer, strong breeze blowing from north. Employed much as yesterday. Carted in this afternoon the remainder of the wheat off field No. I9 which concludes the harvest. 2 ploughs agoing, Car rier arranging others to start as soon as possible. Began to dig a well on the hill behind the house. Friday 3rd. The weather much clearer to day & the sun has at length been able [to] strike its beams thro the Smoke. Paid off the harvest indians. Carrier has 8 ploughs now ready & several of the lads are preparing to commence ploughing. Carting manure, making up fences round potatoe fields & as usual. The 2 mnen digging the well have got down 9 feet. Saturday 1th. Close sultry smoky dusty weather. 4 ploughs agoing, getting 2 others ready. Employed digging well; weve got down 12 feet in two days. Sunday 5th. Air much clearer of smoke and cooler. Smart breeze from Westward. Monday 6th. Smoky still strong NW breeze-employed ploughing removing mill to white wheat shed-digging well (i6 feet deep to night). Sent Laportre42 to Naw wa cum43 for bark. Carrier pulling down & carters removing Gilbeauts44 old house to below the hill where it is to be set up again to answer for a stable this winter. Boys carting manure. En gaged two heads of indian families. Sow a sow & Kawasi45 to look after the sheep for four months at the rate of I 2 Blkts pr month. Engaged 5 Indian women to work at the thrashing machine or elsewhere until strawberry season summer '48. The water in the Cowelitz exceedingly low. The indians at the weir take but very few salmon. Sal-lal ripe.

42. Jean Baptiste Lapoitre (Laportre), a middleman, 1847-49 , Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H.B.C. Arch. He appears in the 1850 Lewis County census, and in 1851 took charge of Muck Farm, a Nisqually outpost, after John McPhail left (Nisqually Journal, WHQ, XIL224).

43. Edmond Meany, in Origin of Washington Geographic Names (Seattle, 1923), 187, mentions the Puget Sound Agricultural Company farmsite called Newaukum. The Newaukum River is a tributary of the Chehalis, and a prairie and later town were given the name.

44. Hilard Gilbeault, middleman and farmer, 1847 -48 , Cowlitz Farm employee list, H .B.C . Arch. He was at the farm as early as 1842 (HBRS VI:66n).

45. Probably Indians.

Tuesday 7th. Smoky weather, wind strong from North. Commenced thrashing wheat. 6 ploughs agoing. Sutherland^[8] with the women taking up potatoes for present use. Carrier making a coffin for an indian & putting up a temporary stable. Derval^[9] put the post & beam that draw the water out of the well. Maalo^[10] & the boy have got down 20 feet in the new well. Kawasi & Sow-a-sow took charge of the sheep to day.

Wednesday 8th. Very very close & densely smoky weather. Barometer fell a good deal. Received from Nisqually & for warded to Vancouver by a small two man canoe the packet from Barque Columbia arrived at Victoria from the Sandwich Islands. Employed ploughing, thrashing wheat, dig ging well—Derval hauling wood for a temporary stable. Carrier sharpening X [cross] cut & pit saws. 6 Indian women taking up potatoes for present use. Received 22 10 feet 1½ In[ch] Plank from Plomondon.

Thursday 9th. Rather clearer than yesterday. Strong westerly wind. Got the 8 ploughs in operation & only fear now we shall get done with the pea field the only land now ploughable before sufficient rain will have fallen to soften the other fields for the plough. Employed thrashing wheat—carting manure—digging well—making a small stable &.

Friday 10th. Smoke denser than ever—employed much as yesterday—8 Ploughs agoing—3 Indians employed cutting 7½ feet pickets for a garden fence.

Saturday 11th. Cloudy or densely smoky & foggy weather. Considerable depredation made in the potatoe fields by indians who live 10 or 12 miles up the river. Rode out after them with the ploughmen & several others, found the thieves & took 5 bushels potatoes from them. Gave one of the principle ones a good hiding. A few peals of thunder heard this afternoon.

Sunday 12th. Close weather. Distant thunder & light rain towards night. The batteux with salt, mens orders &c arrived at Plomondons landing.

Monday 13th. Air a little clearer than usual, with light rain. Employed ploughing-thrashing &c &c. Carted the things brought by the batteux up from Plomondon's landing.

Tuesday 14th. Fair clear weather; very heavy rain last night. Employed thrashing, ploughing &c &c. Changed cattle pen; started 4 pairs harrows; harrowed in 9 Bus[hels] white wheat.

Wednesday 15th. Beautiful weather splendid for farming—days long & cool, ground sufficiently wetted by the late showers to be ploughable. 8 ploughs & 4 harrows agoing—sowed 2I Bus White wheat. Finished changing the large cattle pen. Carrier & 3 Owhyhees putting up a new stable on the hill. Derval & Johnson^[11] house building. 3 Indians cutting picketing for a garden—thrashed 45 Bus Wheat.

Thursday 16th. Fair temperate weather. Sowed 18 Bus Wheat—ploughmen finished field No. 5 & commenced field No 22 that was partly ploughed for coleseed during summer which failed from the excessive drought. Only thrashed 27 Bus Wheat owing to the crasy state of the mill. Carrier & Maalo putting up new Stable—Johnson & Derval house building. Handcock an American building a brick oven. Kalama^[12] repairing Salmon barrels, 3 Indians chopping pickets for garden—very busy time—collected 12 Bus ladies finger potatoes for seed next year.

Received from two American 40 Bus Wheat. Jim returned from Vancouver; sent the papers &c received by him off to Nisqually by Bapt[iste]^[13] immediately. Mr. Douglas expects to pass here about 1st October. Friday 17th. Fair weather. Employed as much as usual. Sowed 18 Bus Wheat in field No 5. Thrashed 41 Bus Wheat. Started the 2 Wheel plough to prepare the potatoe land for next year.

Saturday 18th. Fair sultry weather—sowed 7½ Bus: Wheat—thrashed 23 Bus. Killed an ox and took up potatoes for rations. Received 21 Bus: Wheat from a Mr. Saml Davis.^[14] Kalama has got 40 barrels repaired for the salmon fishery.

Sunday 19th. Overcast—heavy squall from from [sic] Southward this evening attended with thunder & lightening.

Monday 20th. Light showers of rain; splendid farming weather. 8 ploughs & 4 prs harrows agoing. Sowed 18 Bus Wheat. Thrashed [left blank] Bus Wheat & Bus Oats—3 men house building. Carrier collecting Iron from about the old Saw Mill. Made an attempt to get on with digging the well again. Kalama repairing salmon barrels. Sent down 40 Barrels to Plomondons landing place. Forwarded a letter to the Board of Management pr Mr. Hall^[15] just received by him from Nisqually.

Tuesday 21st. Splendid weather—employed much as usual. The new oven finished. Sowed 18 Bus Wheat in field No 5—thrashed 58 Bus. oats. Sent off the Batteux with 50 empty casks & Laportre with a little Outfit to begin the fishery at the Forks—the batteux is to go as far as Thibeaults^[16] to bring up the salt lately left there.

Saturday 13th. Fair cool weather, northerly & westerly wind. Employed pretty much as usual. The potatoe house fell down to day, an extra job to clear away the ruins & gather up the potatoes from the piles of dirt & muck. Received a few lines from Mr Tolmie. Jackson arrived from the Falls.

Sunday 14th. Fair delightful weather—but rather too dry for the crops.

Monday 15th. Fair very sultry weather—an appearance of change. Very busy day occupied as per distribution book. Turned all possible hands to the making up of the back lane fence. The cattle cannot be kept off the crops unless we remake the whole & stake & rider it. Very great trouble with the Mission cattle also—told the Mission Gentlemen that in future I was determined to employ hands to shoot those trespassing. Our fences are good, & I wont scruple to put the threat in force for it seems the only method of rid[d]ing the Company of this expensive anoyance. The cattle have been so habituated to breaking that nothing but harsh measures will answer. These people show a willingness & regret at the fearful damage the cattle do—so at times apparently did M Langlois, but still he used but little effort to protect us. Rather than submit to the present abuse it would be far better the Company should employ 2 or 3 hands to herd the Mission cattle. Where [is] the use raising if we can't protect the crops.

Tuesday 16th. Fair sultry weather. All the cattle & horses in the wheat again this morning. Turned to with a will & made a very strong park & hope now to defy the brutes to get out.

Thrashed only 40 Bus Wheat—horses worked badly & the grain yields but poorly. Ploughmen tearing along but the ground is already to[o] dry to work to advantage & tills indifferently for turnips. The early sown look fresh & healthy.

Wednesday 17th. Day sultry; evening cool, promising a change. Occupied much as yesterday, much of our time necessarily taken up with the fencing, a great deal of trouble to protect the growing crops. Ploughed early potatoes for the first time this season. Revd Monsrs Ricord & Byot^[17] arrived from Ft Vancouver & have brought the sad news that the Company's Bark Vancouver was a total wreck at the mouth of the Columbia.

Thursday 18th. Day overcast with a nice wetting shower about 8 A M. Air cold. Removed the mill to another division; thrashed 64 Bus Wheat.

Commenced ploughing in field No 1. Wheat fields now really beautiful to look upon, a great promise of an abundant harvest. An Indian (Eliakanah) arrived from Nisqually enroute for Ft. Vancouver tomorrow. Thrashing with horses and cleaning wheat in Store. Tenasman & Derval laid up seemingly with some new malady, cold perhaps or influenza. This is quite common of late at Vancr. Several of the settlers are also complaining.

Friday 19th. A pouring rain most of the day—cleared towards evening. Employed pretty much as usual. Recd letters from Nisqually by Holt holt in. Sent the letters that have accumulated here to Nisqually by Eilakakah [sic]. Priests cattle still troublesome.

Saturday 20th. Showers of rain, heavier towards evening. Sowed 30 acres of Coleseed with a sprinkling of turnips. Employed thrashing & cleaning of Wheat. 6 Ploughs agoing for coleseed. Employed otherwise as usual.

Sunday 21th. Cold showers of rain, wind South & South Page:The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51.djvu/55 Page:The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51.djvu/56 Page:The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51.djvu/57 Page:The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51.djvu/58 Page:The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51.djvu/59 Page:The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51.djvu/60 Page:The Cowlitz Farm Journal, 1847-51.djvu/61 in which I found it. They said there was any quantity there; not far up.

Tuesday 4th. Camped 3 miles above the forks. Weather still favorable.

Wednesday 5th. Fair weather. Got up to Wabass's landing to-night with one boat, the other encamped at the drift below.

Thursday 6th. Fair weather. The boats got up to our landing this evening. Savage,^[18] the Steilacoom Mail man, arrived today.

Friday 7th. Fair weather. Started the soldier with the mail. Wrote Mr Ogden of the accidental discovery of coal. Loading Batteux with wheat, oats, potatoes, & pork.

Saturday 8th. Gloomy, cloudy day. Started the batteux. Got off myself also to visit the coal placa. I have felt extremely uneasy since writing Mr O on the subject fearing I may have been over sanguine with regard to it, however I sent the specimen I found. Encamped at the mouth of the fork river.

Sunday 9th. Extremely pleasant weather for the season. Found several pieces of coal at the entrance of the river evidently drifted from above. Started up at 9:30 A M. About noon arrd at the place the indians have brought us to see the coal. Quite disappointed with the appearance of things. Infernal cliff so abrupt no getting even a specimen. In fact this does not agree with my specimens, nor is it the likely place. Tho I have kept most dilligent watch I have not been able to see a morsel of coal along the river shore. The indians say there is a place below. I determined to go no higher being convinced the coal I had found had never drifted so far down. Arrived at the next place at the foot of a bad rapid & was pleased to find a good coal of the splint variety & in abundance cropped out in the river, where it can be easily won free of water. Still this does not altogether satisfy me. The kind I found washed up is Cannel Coal, this here is splint. Tho I looked pretty dilligently, I was obliged to come away. Cannel coal must, yes must, exist there somewhere in abundance.

Monday 10th. Fair weather. Arrived here in the evening from the forks. Men get their ploughs & horses ready.

Tuesday 11th. Fair weather. Ploughed up the cattle park on the hill here. It lies well to the sun & is warm. Will give an excellent [precis?] of early potatoes.

Wednesday 12th. Rainy, disagreeable weather. Ploughing up sward land.

Thursday 13th. Rainy,ditto disagreeable weather.ditto Ploughing up sward land.ditto

Friday 14th. Rainy,ditto disagreeable weather.ditto Bought 100 Bus of Wheat of Old Cottonoir.

Saturday 15th. Rainy, gloomy weather. Ploughing new land for potatoes. The soldier arrived from Ft Vancr with the Steilacoom mail.

Sunday 16th. Squally weather, something like April showers, being warm withal. Got the soldier off early this morning.

Monday 17th. Beautiful weather for the season, the first day we have had for months suitable for sowing wheat. 4 ploughs turning up new ground for potatoes. 2 Harrows harrowing White wheat. Waltzir^[19] arrd from Nisqually with the mail from Ft Victoria & Nisqually. Canoe arrived from Mr A L Lewes^[20] at Thibeaults, desiring me to meet him there forthwith. The packet from the coast goes with me to Coo wee min.

A table should appear at this position in the text.
See Help:Table for formatting instructions.

A/C of Lumber received from Plomondon's Mill

1847

Octr 2 22 Plank ½ Ins. thick 11 feet long 12 Ins broad feet 363

Nov 2 30 Boards 15 Ins.” wide 12 feet” long” ¾ Ins wide feet” 450

16 16 Braces 13½ feet long 8 x 4 Ins thro feet” 576

Decr 4 47 Clap Boards feet” say 329 feet

27 Carted Gilbeault & Lozier feet”

11 Braces 13½ feet long 8 x 4 Ins. feet” 396

50 Rafters 10 feet” long” 4x4 Ins.” feet” 667

217 Planks 12 feet” long” 15 Ins wide 2 Ins thick feet” 6510

10 Planksditto 14 feet” long” 15 Ins wide” 2 Ins thick” feet” 350

A table should appear at this position in the text.
See Help:Table for formatting instructions.

2 Boards 8 feet” long” 15 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” feet” 15

24 Boards” 10 feet” long” 15 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” feet” 225

44 Boardsditto 11 feet” long” 15 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” feet” 454

114 Boardsditto 12 feet” long” 15 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” feet” 1282

1 Boardsditto 13 feet” long” 15 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” feet” 12

15 Boardsditto 16 feet” long” 15 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” feet” 180 11480

April 5 Carted pr Punebaka

6 30 Boards 12 feet long 13 Ins x ¾ In 292

7 20 Boards” 15 feet” long” 12 Ins” x ¾ In” 225

25 Boards” 20 12 feet” long” 12 Ins” x ¾ In” 180

25” 18 Boards” 10 feet” long” 12 Ins” x ¾ In” 135 135

June 13 9 Boards 14½ feet long 17 In wide ¾ Ins thick 139

6 Boardsditto 10 feet” long” 16 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” 60

2 Boardsditto 12 feet” long” 12 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” 18

2 Boardsditto 16 17 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” 34

2 Boardsditto 17 17 Ins wide” ¾ Ins think” 36

2 Plank 12 14 2 Ins think” 54

14 18 Plankditto 14 12 2 Ins think” 504 1677

Carried forward 13157

A/C of Lumber received from Plomondon's Mill Continued

1848 A/C Brot forward from last page of this book— 16361

June 26 55 Plank 15 feet 12 x 2 Ins feet 1650

21 Plankditto 15 14 x 2 feet” 735

3 Plankditto 12 12 x 2 feet” 72

6 Plankditto 12 13 x 2 feet” 144

4 Plankditto 12 14 x 2 feet” 112

4 Plankditto 13 14 x 2 feet” 121

6 Plankditto 15 13 x 2 feet” 195

1 Plankditto 13 12 x 2 feet” 26 3055

27 2 Boards 12 feet 12 Ins x ¾ Ins feet 18

1 Boardsditto 13 12 Ins” x ¾ Ins feet” 10

18 11 12 Ins” x ¾ Ins feet” 148

16 12 15 Ins” x ¾ Ins feet” 180

8 11 15 Ins” x ¾ Ins feet” 82

3 11 21 Ins” x ¾ Ins feet” 44

3 12 17 Ins” x ¾ Ins feet” 38

1 14 15 Ins” x ¾ Ins feet” 13

2 10 15 Ins” x ¾ Ins feet” 19

3 13 19 Ins” x ¾ Ins feet” 46

1 16 17 Ins” x ¾ 17 Ins feet” 615

2 Plank 15 feet 14 x 2 Ins feet 70

5 Plankditto 15 x 2 Ins feet” 187

4 Plankditto 12 14 x 2 Ins feet” 104

4 Plankditto 13 14 x 2 Ins feet” 121

2 Plankditto 13 12 x 2 Ins feet” 52 534

↑ George Roberts' Cowlitz Farm journal was presented to the Oregon Historical Society by Edward Huggins in 1901. In editing it for publica- tion, some punctuation and capitals (for proper names) have been added to clarify the meaning (Thomas Vaughan and Priscilla Knuth, editors).
↑ Dr. William F. Tolmie was Chief Trader in charge of the P. S. A. Company's Nisqually Farm. He moved to Victoria in 1859. See Dorothy O. Johansen, "William Fraser Tolmie . . ." in The Beaver, September, 1937, 29-32.
↑ Douglas was on the Hudson's Bay Company's three-man Board of Management in charge of the Columbia District until May, 1849. See W. N. Sage, "James Douglas on the Columbia, 1830-49," OHQ, XXVII (December, 1926), 365-80.
↑ Presumably Indians Roberts hired to help temporarily with the farm work.
↑ Pasture.
↑ Onizime Carriere is classified as a carpenter in the lists of Cowlitz Farm employees, 1847–50. See District Statements in H. B. C. Archives, B.239/1/18, fos. 45–46; B.239/1/19, fo. 44; and B.239/1/20, fo. 45, Columbia Outfits for 1847-48, 1848–49, and 1849–50 . Information from these District Statements has been obtained for use in this article through the courtesy of the Hudson's Bay Company, London. (Hereafter cited as Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H. B. C. Arch.)
↑ Samuel Hancock came to Oregon in 1845, worked for Dr. Tolmie at Nisqually in 1846 or 1847. See The Narrative of Samuel Hancock, 1843–1860, introd. by Arthur D. H. Smith (New York, 1927), 56–57. Bancroft's History of Washington, Idaho and Montana, 9, states that Hancock and A. B. Rabbeson made bricks on Simon Plomondon's farm in 1847.
↑ John Sutherland, a shepherd, 1847-51, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H .B. C. Arch. The Lewis County 1850 census gives his birthplace as Scotland and his age as twenty-eight.
↑ Denis Durval, middleman, 1847-49, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H. B. C. Arch. He retired from service, possibly to French Prairie, since the 1850 Marion County census includes Denis Derval (Duvalle).
↑ Maalo, laborer (probably a Hawaiian), 1847-49, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H.B.C. Arch. Later stationed at Victoria, he is mentioned in the Nisqually Journal in April 1850 as a deserter (WHQ, XI:222).
↑ Alexis Johnson, middleman, 1847-51, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H.B.C. Arch.
↑ A Sandwich Islander on 1847-49 Cowlitz Farm employee lists as a laborer, H.B.C. Arch. In 1849 he went to the Nisqually Farm, and Louis Ledoux went to Cowlitz in exchange. Nisqually journal, WHQ, X:207.
↑ A regular Nisqually messenger? See Nisqually Journal, WHQ, X:209.
↑ Probably the Samuel Davis who settled in Yamhill County in 1849. He and his family came to Oregon in 1846 (Pioneer Card File, OHS), and he settled his donation claim in 1850 (Genealogical Material in Oregon Donation Land Claims, abstracted from applications by Genealogical Forum of Portland, Oregon [Portland, 1957], No. 1459). One neighbor was a D. Brock, and a witness was Mahlon Brock. Since a Brock family was among those who left the Cowlitz Farm area after the Indian disturbances in the winter of 1847-48, the Davises and Brocks may have moved together from Washington to Oregon.
↑ Pr—per, for, from (Roberts uses the same symbol for all three). Washington Hall, on the list of Vancouver voters in 1847 (Papers of Oregon Provisional and Territorial Governments, No. 1725). He settled at Shoalwater Bay (Clinton A. Snowden, History of Washington [6 vols., New York, 1909], II:445).
↑ The Lewis County census of 1850 has "Jochain Tibout," age thirty-eight, born in Canada. A French-Canadian named Thibault was
↑ Fr. Pascal Ricord, O.M.I.; possibly "Byot" is a rendering of Rev. J. F. Jayol, sent to Cowlitz for the Nisqually mission in March, 1848, or of Rev. F. Veyret, sent to the Sound in May? See Blanchet's Historical Sketches of the Catholic Church in Oregon, 68; Schoenberg, A Chronicle of Catholic History of the Pacific Northwest, 27; Nisqually journal, WHQ, XII:224. Or perhaps Brouillet visited the mission.
↑ William N. Savage, a soldier from the army post at Steilacoom. The 1850 Lewis County census gives his age as twenty-three, and birth place as Virginia.
↑ The Nisqually Journal for February 15, 1851 has: "an Indian dispatched to Cowlitz with a packet." WHQ, XII:302.
↑ Adolphus Lee Lewes or Lewis, for whom the Lewis River in Washington was named. See Roberts' letters to Mrs. Victor, note 37.

[p112-1] George Roberts' Cowlitz Farm journal was presented to the Oregon Historical Society by Edward Huggins in 1901. In editing it for publica- tion, some punctuation and capitals (for proper names) have been added to clarify the meaning (Thomas Vaughan and Priscilla Knuth, editors).

[2] Dr. William F. Tolmie was Chief Trader in charge of the P. S. A. Company's Nisqually Farm. He moved to Victoria in 1859. See Dorothy O. Johansen, "William Fraser Tolmie . . ." in The Beaver, September, 1937, 29-32.

[3] Douglas was on the Hudson's Bay Company's three-man Board of Management in charge of the Columbia District until May, 1849. See W. N. Sage, "James Douglas on the Columbia, 1830-49," OHQ, XXVII (December, 1926), 365-80.

[4] Presumably Indians Roberts hired to help temporarily with the farm work.

[5] Pasture.

[6] Onizime Carriere is classified as a carpenter in the lists of Cowlitz Farm employees, 1847–50. See District Statements in H. B. C. Archives, B.239/1/18, fos. 45–46; B.239/1/19, fo. 44; and B.239/1/20, fo. 45, Columbia Outfits for 1847-48, 1848–49, and 1849–50 . Information from these District Statements has been obtained for use in this article through the courtesy of the Hudson's Bay Company, London. (Hereafter cited as Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H. B. C. Arch.)

[7] Samuel Hancock came to Oregon in 1845, worked for Dr. Tolmie at Nisqually in 1846 or 1847. See The Narrative of Samuel Hancock, 1843–1860, introd. by Arthur D. H. Smith (New York, 1927), 56–57. Bancroft's History of Washington, Idaho and Montana, 9, states that Hancock and A. B. Rabbeson made bricks on Simon Plomondon's farm in 1847.

[8] John Sutherland, a shepherd, 1847-51, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H .B. C. Arch. The Lewis County 1850 census gives his birthplace as Scotland and his age as twenty-eight.

[9] Denis Durval, middleman, 1847-49, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H. B. C. Arch. He retired from service, possibly to French Prairie, since the 1850 Marion County census includes Denis Derval (Duvalle).

[10] Maalo, laborer (probably a Hawaiian), 1847-49, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H.B.C. Arch. Later stationed at Victoria, he is mentioned in the Nisqually Journal in April 1850 as a deserter (WHQ, XI:222).

[11] Alexis Johnson, middleman, 1847-51, Cowlitz Farm employee lists, H.B.C. Arch.

[12] A Sandwich Islander on 1847-49 Cowlitz Farm employee lists as a laborer, H.B.C. Arch. In 1849 he went to the Nisqually Farm, and Louis Ledoux went to Cowlitz in exchange. Nisqually journal, WHQ, X:207.

[13] A regular Nisqually messenger? See Nisqually Journal, WHQ, X:209.

[14] Probably the Samuel Davis who settled in Yamhill County in 1849. He and his family came to Oregon in 1846 (Pioneer Card File, OHS), and he settled his donation claim in 1850 (Genealogical Material in Oregon Donation Land Claims, abstracted from applications by Genealogical Forum of Portland, Oregon [Portland, 1957], No. 1459). One neighbor was a D. Brock, and a witness was Mahlon Brock. Since a Brock family was among those who left the Cowlitz Farm area after the Indian disturbances in the winter of 1847-48, the Davises and Brocks may have moved together from Washington to Oregon.

[15] Pr—per, for, from (Roberts uses the same symbol for all three). Washington Hall, on the list of Vancouver voters in 1847 (Papers of Oregon Provisional and Territorial Governments, No. 1725). He settled at Shoalwater Bay (Clinton A. Snowden, History of Washington [6 vols., New York, 1909], II:445).

[p11-16] The Lewis County census of 1850 has "Jochain Tibout," age thirty-eight, born in Canada. A French-Canadian named Thibault was

[17] Fr. Pascal Ricord, O.M.I.; possibly "Byot" is a rendering of Rev. J. F. Jayol, sent to Cowlitz for the Nisqually mission in March, 1848, or of Rev. F. Veyret, sent to the Sound in May? See Blanchet's Historical Sketches of the Catholic Church in Oregon, 68; Schoenberg, A Chronicle of Catholic History of the Pacific Northwest, 27; Nisqually journal, WHQ, XII:224. Or perhaps Brouillet visited the mission.

[18] William N. Savage, a soldier from the army post at Steilacoom. The 1850 Lewis County census gives his age as twenty-three, and birth place as Virginia.

[19] The Nisqually Journal for February 15, 1851 has: "an Indian dispatched to Cowlitz with a packet." WHQ, XII:302.

[20] Adolphus Lee Lewes or Lewis, for whom the Lewis River in Washington was named. See Roberts' letters to Mrs. Victor, note 37.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]