which must be collected within a few years, if it ever is to be preserved. Every loyal Oregonian and friend of education and history ought to feel it his duty to put in permanent form all of this precious and fast disappearing material of which he may become cognizant.
Some mention will be made of the educational activities of other churches than the Methodist, partly by way of comparison, and partly to supplement our knowledge of the Methodist activities. Although the Methodist Episcopal Church early took and held the lead in educational affairs, (and in all other affairs of the territory, as well, be it said in passing) it was by no means alone in educational and religious work. By 1850, the Catholics, Disciples in Christ, Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Baptists—even the Pedo-Baptists[1] and United Brethren, were in evidence.
III. INDIAN MISSIONS, 1834-44
The first school in the Oregon country was taught by one John Ball at Fort Vancouver, Washington. Ball had come out with Wyeth's expedition in 1832. Dr. McLoughlin put him to work teaching the Indians and half-breeds at the Fort, Nov. 19, 1832. Bancroft says[2] this school was continued till March 1? when Solomon Howard Smith, who also had come out with Wyeth, was put in charge. He taught till he became infatuated with the baker's wife. He ran away with her to French Prairie and opened a school in the house of Joseph Gervais. Then Cyrus Shepard, took charge of the school. Ball, himself,[3] says he taught at Vancouver 18 months, so it is likely Bancroft is in error since the Methodists did not come till September, 1834.
["The author is misled by the authority accepted here. Ball's diary states that he was asked by Dr. McLoughlin to take the school on Nov. 17, 1832, and that he taught until March, 1833.—Editor Quarterly.]
Ball says his two dozen pupils talked in all languages—Klickitat, Nez Perce, Chinook, Cree, French,—and that only one in the whole school could understand him; that one took issue with him as to how the school should be run. Just then
- ↑ Ezra Fisher Correspondence. Edited by Henderson-Latourette, p. 210. Oct. 20, 1847.
- ↑ Bancroft. Oreg. Hist. vol. I, p. 75
- ↑ Quoted by Horner. "Oregon History," p. 67.
