Oregon Historical Quarterly/Volume 7/Accessions (Number 2)
ACCESSIONS.
DOCUMENTS.
United States patent to 160 acres of land, issued to Jarrett Weaver, a soldier of the War of 1812, being the northwest quarter of section 24 township 3 north in range 5 west in the tract appropriated for Military Bounties, in the Territory of Illinois, dated January 25, 1819, signed by James Monroe, President, and Josiah Meigs, Commissioner of the General Land Office. Placed in the custody of the Society by F. M. Alfred, Baker City.
United States patent to 120 acres of land in Wisconsin, issued to John H. Marcellus June 1, 1848, signed by James K. Polk, President.
Discharge of John Marcellus from Co. G, First Regiment, Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, Fort Ellsworth, June 26, 1865.
Passes dated June 24 and July 3, 1865, issued to John Marcellus, the first at Fort Ellsworth, Va., and the second at Camp Washburn, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The three preceding documents from Mrs. Louisa W. Marcellus, of Portland.
Three hundred documents, consisting of letters, muster rolls, receipts, orders, commissions, property returns, table of rations, invoice, etc., relating mainly to the Indian war of 1855-56, in connection with the command of Major Davis Layton, of Linn County, Oregon. Donated by Mrs. Clara D. Hendricks, Portland, a daughter of Major Layton. These documents throw considerable light upon the conduct of the Yakima war.
Letter from Anna Maria Pittman to her brother, George W. Pittman, dated New York, April 19, 1834. At this date George W. Pittman was serving in the U. S. Dragoons at "Fort Gibson, Arkansas River, Arkansas Territory." Upon the same sheet is a letter from another sister, M. E. Pittman, to her brother, dated April 17, 1834 also a third letter from Wm. C. Hawley to Mr. Pittman regarding the disposition of some clothing left by his son Francis, who died in the army. These letters were written on a sheet 16 x 191 inches, and are in a good state of preservation. Postage from New York to Fort Gibson, 25 cents.
Letter from Anna Maria Pittman to her brother, George W. Pittman, dated Williamsburg, March 15, 1836. In this she alludes to her portrait, saying, "I have had my portrait painted at my own expense; some say it is good, others say not; but there is always a diversity of opinion on such subjects. When you see it you may judge for yourself. It wants a handsome frame on it. May I ask you for it? It can be procured for 7$. It is to be left at home, that you may sometimes think of me." Reference is made to the contemplated voyage to Oregon, but passage had not yet been secured.
Letter from Anna Maria Pittman to her brother, George W. Pittman, dated New York, June 9, 1836, as she was getting ready to sail to Oregon. The postage from the city to Troy, N. Y., the residence of her brother, was 18 cents. Anything relating to Miss Pittman is of special interest, because she was one of the Methodist missionary party which left Boston in July, 1836, arrived in Oregon in May, 1837, and was married to Rev. Jason Lee, "Under the Firs," at the old mission station, about ten miles north of Salem, July 16, 1837,—the first American marriage west of the Rocky Mountains. The portrait above alluded to can be seen on the walls of the Society's rooms in the city hall, Portland.
Letter from James Churchman, dated "Philad'a 7 Day Morg. 2 Mo. 22, 1834," to his sister "Anne Churchman, Byberry, Penn'a." Mr. Churchman, having studied law, contemplates going to Kentucky to practice; and in writing to his sister gives some of the impressions he has formed respecting his contemplated field of effort. Among other things, he says: "Indeed, a neighborhood where they know how to appreciate a Henry Clay, must be no contemptible place."
Letter from James Churchman, dated "Cincinnati, 5 Mo. 14-34," to his sister Anne, "Byberry Post Office, near Holmesburg, Philadelphia County, Pa."; postage, 25 cents. This letter gives a minute description of the mode of traveling between the points named seventy-two years ago; and of the conditions the author found in Cincinnati upon his arrival there, his profession being very much overcrowded. James Churchman was a prominent lawyer in California and Nevada in early days, and was the father of Dr. Ney Churchman, of Portland, who kindly placed the letter in the custody of the Society.
Letter from Gen. Philip H. Sheridan to Col. J. W. Nesmith, dated "Head Qrs. 11th Div., 14th Army Corps, Camp Mill Creek, Tenn., Dec. 5, 1862." In this letter Sheridan asks Nesmith's aid in securing his confirmation as brigadier general of volunteers, to which he had been promoted on the previous 1st of July.
Letter of Gen. O. O. Howard, dated March 23, 1876.
Letter from Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont to Mrs. Annie W. Mears, Portland, Oregon, dated Los Angeles, California, 15th February, 1898, relating to the family motto of her father, Col. Thomas Hart Benton, and of his attitude towards monopolistic tendencies. Given to the Society by Mrs. Mears.
The Californian, Vol. 2, No. 44, San Francisco, Wednesday, March 15, 1848, by B. R. Buckalew; is 17½x24 inches, four pages, four columns to the page; subscription price, $5 a year. This paper contains the first printed reference to the discovery of gold at "the sawmill recently erected by Capt. Sutter, on the American Fork."