USA > Oregon > Pioneer days of Oregon history, Vol. II > Part 16
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The sudden doubling of the population and entry of 2,000 people, with hundreds of families, just at the advent of winter, upon a people who were themselves struggling to redeem a wilderness and were far from any base of supplies, was no trifling incident. It was not possible for them to lo- cate homes, for it was necessary to go farther up the valley to find them. The newcomers were scant off for means, so had to accept the friendship and hospitality of settlers and the kindly accommodation that had always been given by the Hudson's Bay Company. Nearly all had left good homes and favoring fortunes when they came, and many had come from States not on the border. All had suddenly become reduced in circumstances, and to many the change was a humiliation.
The pilgrims who landed on the New England coast en- countered no such hardships, subdued no such difficulties as these met who made that two thousand miles journey over mountains and plains, the deserts and wastes of the conti- nent, to reach the western valleys and the western sea. To them the rains of Oregon were a discouragement ; the home- lessness of their lives was an almost brutal travesty of the generous abundance they had won in their former homes, and left so far behind! To some it was discouragement ; to many the fatigues, dangers and hardships of the long jour- ney brought broken spirits, as well as broken health. The fact remains that the woman was often the bravest and capable of a heroism that made all others strong. It was a time of trial, and the pioneer usually came out of it as if re- fined by fire.
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Immigrations from 1845 to 1848
1846
The immigration of 1846 was the first that did not endure the fearful experiences that met those of the previous years in reaching Western Oregon, after coming to The Dalles. During the season a company had organized to build the Barlow road across the most available pass, south of and near to Mount Hood. This road, thus opened, was not a Roman causeway by any means, but it was possible by it to reach the Willamette with teams, wagons and animals. There was also more accommodation on the Columbia and less danger in all directions. The fearful experiences of earlier years were not to be repeated, though the long jour- ney was yet tedious and sometimes dangerous. The passage of time had resulted in easier methods and lessened dangers.
In 1846 the immigrants to the Pacific amounted to about 2,500 persons-two-thirds went to Oregon and the other third to California. By this time Fremont and Stockton had raised the Stars and Stripes on the soil of California and war with Mexico was in progress. The immigrants to Oregon were men of courage and character not to be ap- palled by the dangers and fatigues their predecessors had encountered. There was still good lands to claim and the difficulty of the route was lessened. In the early part of the season exploration had been afoot to discover some better route by which to reach the vales of Western Oregon. The Barlow route was rough at the best ; mountaineers and trap- pers told of a southern route with greater advantages and less dangers. In May, Levi Scott, of Polk County, raised a company to prospect the southern mountains and plains, but failed for want of numbers. He was aided the second
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time by Lindsley and Jesse. Applegate ; fifteen men left on June 22d to proceed south on the California trail. They found a California company in trouble among the Rogue River Indians, but they escaped by being watchful. They were first to find the way through the fearful Umpqua Cañon, that was bad enough when I travelled it in 1851; they crossed the Cascades to the east and had their first glimpse of the beautiful prairies of Klamath. The scene was so inspiring that they all shouted. Soon they aroused the natives, and columns of smoke were seen rising from all the hills to tell of their coming. Only two months before Fremont had camped there and the Modocs had murdered three of his Delawares.
They were now in Modoc Land and in California. These treacherous savages were fearful that a force had come to avenge the murders they had committed. Where the Path- finders' force had camped they found fragments of news- papers. They passed the since famous Tule Lake ; got lost among lava crags, and coming to the lake, found that many canoes were making for Scorpion Point as a refuge. Going southeasterly, they crossed the divide to the Humboldt, made their way to Fort Hall, to meet the immigration, and recom- mend the newly traversed southern route. Jesse Applegate and his brother were as honest, sincere and disinterested men as this world affords. To their minds the southern pass pos- sessed far greater advantages than the route down Snake River and the Columbia. There were no mountains to pass until the Cascades were reached; this pass was, to their minds, not difficult. With this impression Jesse Applegate persuaded the Kirquendal company to try the Southern Oregon route. J. Q. Thornton was in this company and has
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written and published his experiences. There were nearly an hundred wagons. Leaving the caravan-with injunc- tions to be careful in the Modoc country-and always main- tain great precaution-the Applegates went on to smooth the road, as far as possible, where the immigrants were to follow. But they seem to have disregarded advice ; many were both dilatory, as well as careless. As they struggled along the road, the treacherous Indians, from concealment, shot poisoned arrows at both men and animals. A number of Indians and some whites were killed. All this had been paralleled by occurrences on The Dalles route, but Thorn- ton tried to make himself believe that Applegate was guilty of intentional misrepresentation. Having in later years known intimately both Applegate and Thornton, I found much good in the last and great excellence in the first. It is only possible to reconcile the difference between them by recognizing the varied features of weak human nature. Of the two, Jesse Applegate was capable of the greatest and truest nobility of character. He seemed to not have ap- preciated the dangers and difficulty of the southern route. The crossing of the Cascades proved to be fearful and toil- some; when that was passed some of them tarried in the lovely Rogue River valley to recruit their worn-out teams; this delay caused them to lose time until the rains set in and the Umpqua cañon became almost impassable.
They were met by relief parties and had every assistance rendered them that was possible ; but the three miles of that gorge of Cañon Creek-where in 1851 the road was all the way through running water-caused great destruction of cattle and property.
With all the supplies sent them, many became destitute.
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In 1847, Levi Scott explored further, and at the time of the Cayuse war the southern route was found to be available for travel and safer than that through the hostile country. Eventually, Levi Scott, Jesse Lindsley and Charles Apple- gate made their homes in the Umpqua and were among the few settlers of that beautiful region when I passed through it in 1851.
IMMIGRATION OF 1847
This immigration consisted of over 4,000 persons, who generally left good homes to find their way to Oregon. This raised the population to fully 10,000 total, indepen- dent of the Hudson's Bay Company. The questions of boundary and sovereignty were no longer pending, for the country was certainly American ; immigrants knew there was land waiting for them and the flag of the Union to protect them. They commenced arriving at The Dalles August 22d, and when November came 200 wagons were still on the east side of the Cascades. Those who came last found the grass gone and were delayed to recruit their cat- tle, which made them late ; many suffered great loss and were semi-starved.
The black measles broke out among them and many died; it being specially fatal from Snake River to The Dalles. The Indians also caught it, and many died from the tribes on the Columbia, making them hostile. There was not much travel by the southern route, as the immigration was met by messengers at Green River, who denounced that way and recommended the Barlow road. They had a circular that was signed by Governor Abernethy, who no doubt was sin-
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cere. There were hostile Indians there, as well as barren deserts ; it is probable that despite these facts there would have been less loss and fewer deaths had one-third of this immigration come by the southern route and exercised due caution. But some who went that route had rough experi- ence.
The immigration of 1847 brought over better stock and more of it ; this addition made a population able to support schools and conduct a State. They spread over a wider country and the work of development went on with more certainty, as well as rapidity.
1848
With 1848 came a new era. The discovery of gold dur- ing that winter made the tide of travel turn from the Co- lumbia River to California ; only half a thousand, or less, are supposed to have come to the Columbia. The world on the Pacific was no longer the dull scene of wild life and privation they had known of yore, for the Oregonian had made his way to the placers and brought home with him such treasure as the pioneer had never heard of or dreamt of.
Oregon had suddenly passed the crisis of her fate and was become rich with wealth that Ophir could hardly rival. There was no more privation ; no lack for a market ; no fear from savage foes nor of British interference. The future had promise of all things needful, and the present had realized much already. The time was now come when the vast area west of the Rockies had government protection ; the days of the provisional government were ended.
CHAPTER LVI
HOW BATTLE CREEK WAS NAMED
SOUTH of Salem, a few miles, a creek pours through the beautiful hills to enter Mill Creek, and there I located my donation in 1853. The origin of the name involves one of the few times when there was conflict with Indians in West- ern Oregon. The Calipooias were peaceful and kept under subjection by the whites, but other Indians came from the south and from east of the sierras, who sometimes made trouble.
There had been no volunteer military company in Cham- poeg County until May, 1846, when a meeting was called at the farm of Daniel Waldo, in the Waldo Hills, that were named for him as first settler. The Oregon Rangers were there organized with Charles Bennett as captain; A. A. Robinson, Isaac Hutchins and Hiram English were lieuten- ants; Thomas Holt was orderly sergeant, and Thomas Howell, S. C. Morris and W. H. Herren were sergeants ; corporals were P. C. Keizur, Robert Walker, B. Frost and John Rowe. The company were to meet every Saturday at Mr. Waldo's for regular drill. Captain Bennett and orderly Holt had been dragoons in the Seminole War, and others had military experience.
One time when Captain Bennett was absent he had de- puted Holt to drill the men, but Lieutenant Robinson in- sisted on giving the orders himself. His ignorance of tactics caused many a laugh, as when he one day ordered the wrong
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wheel. There were several old dragoons who led off as he directed and the rest followed, which confused matters and made Robinson very angry.
In June, 1846, a party of Walla Walla Indians came over the mountains from The Dalles and camped near Looney's Butte, on the Santiam and acted in a very free manner. Hamilton Campbell then owned the mission herd and his cattle ranged the hills near there. A rumor was started that these Indians were killing and eating cattle that ran near their camp, so a messenger was sent to ask the aid of the Oregon Rangers, who were drilling under Lieutenant Rob- inson, as Captain Bennett was absent. The day before this word had reached the settlers, and two of Isaac Cook's boys, two Delaney boys, and Daly and Doty, six in all, started to investigate the story of cattle killing ; also as to horses said to have stolen from Jesse Looney. They met Hamilton Campbell, who told them not to go, as there were forty well- armed warriors, so they returned. Saturday about forty of the Rangers started for the Indian camp on the run; the Indians had moved several miles north, in the hills, on what was after called "Battle Creek." The Rangers rushed up and formed a circle around their camp before the In- dians saw them.
Robinson was for taking three of their head men and holding them until the lost stock was returned; but Looney objected to having to guard Indians ; he said to keep their horses instead. Of course, the Indians were greatly alarmed at the unexpected onset, and were more so when Robinson had three of them brought to stand in their midst. They had grabbed their guns when the Rangers closed in and then all broke for the brush that lined the creek. My in-
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formant said that as an Indian returned for his gun Daly shot him, and he died the next night, and that two others were wounded ; another version is published that says one In- dian was wounded and was afterwards placated by gift of a pony and pair of blankets. My informant, who was there, said Robinson rode to the hills and the rest followed ; Sexton got behind the Indians' horses and drove them off ; the In- dians followed, but did not reach him ; then they ran back to the brush. While Daly was loading his gun one of the In- dians snapped a pistol at him. The firing soon ceased, and the Indian leader demanded to know why they were attacked in that way? He was told that there had been no intention to fight them, but they had come to see about the report that Walla Wallas were killing the settlers' cattle. This was denied, and there was no proof that the charge was true. One of the incidents of the campaign was that George Hib- bard declared he was shot, but was not able to locate the wound. Patterson was so excited in the heat of the onset that he lost his balance and fell from his horse, but a dash of cold water made him all right. The Indians were pla- cated by gifts, but it looks very much as if the Oregon boys were more impetuous than the occasion called for.
The Calipooias, who were natives of the valley, seem to have resented the inroads of the Eastern Oregon Indians, and made a jest of the Battle Creek skirmish. Louis's band of them came to Looney's, and Jo Hutchins, one of the best of the Calipooias, was with them. On the way they saw Doty, and as he showed symptoms of scare, they chased him all the way to Campbell's, where they headed him off and had a hearty laugh. They came to ask if their white friends wanted them to clean out the Walla Wallas? They were
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How Battle Creek was Named
rather disappointed not to have the chance. The Walla Wallas seem not to have been very well armed, as they fired many shots and no white man was ever wounded.
It was said that Rev. Waller told the Walla Wallas the next day that he would give up to them the man who killed their man, so they went that night and camped at his place ; as he was a missionary, they probably did this merely for protection. There was a barn raising at Looney's soon after the battle ; Daly was on the roof of the barn and saw McClaine and five Walla Walla Indians coming, so went down and got his gun. They wanted pay for the man killed ; demanded a horse and blankets. It was then that Lewis's band came, and were keen to clean out the others. They were afraid that if depredations were committed they might be accused of the cattle killing. The people of Salem seem to have contributed to satisfy the Walla Wallas and they soon went away.
These incidents were not very important, but I give vari- ous versions as typical of the country and the time.
EARLY TIMES ON FRENCH PRAIRIE
Mr. L. H. Poujade, of French Prairie, remembers when they arrived there, September 30th, 1847, and says: "My father, the old French doctor, had studied at Montpelier, and after getting his diploma as surgeon and physician, was immediately taken into service by Napoleon Buonaparte and served three years as surgeon, mostly in Spain, and nat- urally did not want to go into the army again. He then came to America and found his way to Oregon, and from force of associations made his home on French Prairie.
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"Our first camp was at the ranch of old man Montier, that then looked like an old farm. Peter Depot then owned a claim on the land where Gervais now is situated; I understood that he got it from Montier some time previous, but how long I do not know.
"Montier had two sons [George and Robert]. Whether they were both children of the same wife he lived with then I cannot say, as morals were very loose previous to the ar- rival of the missionaries. There was a custom among ex- servants of the Hudson's Bay Company to claim a wife wherever they were among the Indians. After the arrival of Father Blanchet they were allowed to have but one wife.
"I remember that George Montier was a very large man and very strong-must have weighed 350 pounds. I have seen him lasso wild cattle and hold them to be branded without any sinch or other thing to hold the saddle on the horse. He was a half-breed, and did it by mere weight and strength. He would do this for half a day at a time.
"Bob, as he was called, was not so large, but was stout and active ; he was considered a good shot ; I remember hear- ing from Captain Tom McKay and others, who were volunteers after the Whitman massacre, in the winter of 1847-8, that when they were camped in a valley east of the Cascades, when one of the Indian medicine men rode out on a hill, in plain sight, and called out for any one of the boys to shoot at him that wanted to, as he could eat all the balls as fast as they came. Captain Tom called up Bob Montier and asked him if he thought he could hit him, and Bob said: 'Don't know, Cap; it's a long way off.' McKay knew that Bob had the best gun in the com- pany, so he says to him, 'Hand me your gun.' Then he
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took aim and fired, and blew all the top of the Indian's head off. The Indians made excuses for their medicine man by saying that no living man but Captain Tom could have hurt him."
THE APPLEGATES AND ROBERT SHORTESS
The three Applegate brothers came in 1843, and after awhile made their homes near together in the Umpqua, among the first to settle there. I learn from O. C. Applegate, son of Lindsley, that they always had resided near each other, having their homes on the Osage Bottoms, Missouri, as early as 1838, before coming to Oregon. At that time Lindsley Applegate was building a small grist-mill, expending all his means to do so, on his claim by the Osage River. One day while putting on the roof a foot traveller came by who stopped to rest; Lindsley stopped putting on shingles to say, "I see the march of empire has set in !" The other very sententiously said, "Has it?" As the newcomer proved to be a miller, he was employed to run the mill. His name was Robert Shortess, afterwards well known in Oregon.
The mill was finished and at work when, in the spring of 1840, a freshet on the Osage broke the record, lifting the mill from its foundations and taking it off down the implacable flood. The only thing that came ashore was a rat that had defied traps and contraptions. They stood on the bank and Applegate saw his fortune disappear. He was left with little means ..
Shortess went to the Rocky Mountains, joined the fra- ternity of hunters and trappers, and about 1841 found himself at Vancouver, on the Columbia. From there he wrote his friend Applegate several letters, that were circu-
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lated among the people of the Osage Bottoms, and roused their ambition to go to Oregon, for Shortess painted that Land of the Occident "with words that burn," lighting their patriotism as well as desire to possess the promised land. It is safe to say that Shortess was a loyal American and wanted to see Oregon saved to his country. The spirit of the Osage settlers was aroused, and not only the Apple- gates, but Waldo, the Fords, Beales, Bennett, and others who came in that emigration were fired with determination to make Oregon American by occupation.
We find in this single incident that Shortess coming by as he did in 1838 was cause of remarkable results. Had he not been there, and the flood not have occurred, he might not have gone to Oregon, the letters that roused the Osage settlers would not have been written, and those names, among the foremost of early times, would not have been pioneers of Oregon. Lindsley Applegate talked Oregon with Dr. Hall, of Boonville, and Oregon emigration was discussed in the Boonville Herald. This was February, 1843. In the Osage country many sold out and were ready, when one day there came a rough-and-ready young man from Fort Scott, named Nesmith, who joined them, bringing some knowledge of military affairs. He was orderly sergeant and kept the roll of that emigration, which is an interesting memento preserved in the archives of the Oregon Historical Society. Shortess was a Pennsylvanian, well read, and could quote Shakespeare and the classics. When Colonel Kelley came to Oregon, in 1852, he bought Shortess's land near Astoria. When Shortess lost his means and was quite old, he returned to Astoria and remained on the place he had owned as guest of Colonel Kelley while he lived.
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How Battle Creek was Named
FIRST FRUIT TREES IN OREGON
The introduction of fruit trees into the Columbia region is matter of interest. One would suppose that seeds could be sent and planted as soon as any cultivation would be commenced, but the first apples eaten at Vancouver have a history that says the seeds came there by accident. Cap- tain Simpson was dining out in London before leaving to take charge of the company's coast vessel, when a lady present saved the seeds of her apple at dessert, and dropping them into the captain's vest pocket, told him to plant them in Oregon. When dining at Vancouver, after his arrival, in 1827, he had on the same party vest and took the seeds out to give them to Bruce, the gardener, who planted them in pots or cans. Mrs. Henry, daughter of McLoughlin, says, "My father and Mr. Pambrun and Simpson were to- gether and planted them in little boxes that were put where they could not be touched; they had glass over them. By and by father came to me and said, 'Now come and see ; we are going to have some apples.' Father used to watch the garden so no one could touch them. At first there was only one apple ; the second year they bore we had plenty. The first apple on the little tree was a great prize; it was cut up in small slices to go around among so many."
In February, 1829, the brig Owyhee, Captain Dominis, came into the Columbia ; on the way out he stopped at Juan Fernandez and brought some peach trees that were the first planted in Oregon. Captain Dominis managed well enough with peaches, but rather missed it in buying sheep. Mc- Loughlin gave him an order to bring up sheep when he went to California ; he wanted them to increase and use the super-
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abundant pasture. He brought a large lot of fine fat sheep, but they proved to be all wethers. Coarse wool sheep were eventually got from California and were driven up the ocean shore. It must have been a very tedious task to get them over the rivers, bays and inlets. A few had come to Astoria very early, brought by the coasters.
FIRST GRAFTED FRUIT
An interesting letter from Mr. George H. Himes to the Oregonian, December 30, 1905, tells how grafted fruit trees were first introduced by being brought across the plains in 1847. This is only one of many features of our early history that Mr. Himes has carefully studied and pre- served for the future.
Mr. Himes writes as follows :
Every little while an item appears in the papers, and is widely copied, to the effect that Seth Luelling, or Luelling Brothers, brought the first grafted fruit to Oregon. In the interest of accurate state- ment, it should be stated that Henderson Luelling, of Salem, Henry County, Ia., conceived the idea in 1845 that it would be a fine thing for a new country like Oregon to have a supply of the best kinds of fruit, and at once began to work with that end in view. When the spring of 1847 came he was ready to remove to Oregon. In order to transport safely the nursery stock, he prepared two wagon boxes, making them extra strong, placing therein a compost consisting prin- cipally of charcoal and earth, about 12 inches deep, and started West on April 17, 1847, with over 700 trees, from 20 inches to 4 feet high. These trees were what Luelling considered the best varieties of apples, pears, cherries, etc., of the most hardy and thrifty quality, selected with especial reference to enduring the trip. He arrived at a point opposite Vancouver on November 17th, and two days later found himself at the squatter cabin of A. E. Wilson, on the eastern bank of the Willamette River, just below the mouth of the Johnson Creek of to-day. Mr. Luelling at once acquired Wilson's right to the
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