USA > Oregon > The Oregon native son, Vol. I > Part 4
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Some years elapsed and one of our state printers was turning the pages of Webster's dictionary, and found therein half-tone engravings of the impressions of the seals of the various states, Ore- gon's being among them. It did not look familiar to him, and he went to the office of the secretary of state, got an im- pression of the supposed seal of state, found such different from his fac-similes in hand, and ordered a new one (No. 8) made. In this the eagle looks in the opposite direction; has "Seal of the" pre- fixed to the legend, "State of Oregon": 32 stars instead of 33; a setting sun which almost crowds out the entering steamer and the date, 1859. Make the prefix read "The seal of the," and it is a fair copy of the seal in the office of the secretary. This fac-simile did not do away with the older ones, for today all of theni are being used as the state seal on documents printed "by authority."
F
..
STATE
......
THE UNION
1857
No. 6.
Any one holding a commission as a notary, etc., will find the 38-star 1857 fac- simile displayed in the head lines, and when compared with the impression be- low, will find that they are not alike. The supreme court seal shows the escutcheon
After the state was admitted, some one discovered a mistake in the fac-similes in hand and ordered tico ofher fac-sim- and objects therein of No. 8, but is sup-
26
OREGON NATIVE SON.
ported by only 31 stars, 14 on one side and 17 on the other. The seal of the adjutant-general has 10 stars on one side and II on the other, 21 in all; the wagon and elk are left out, and the set- ting sun is extra conspicuous. The seals used by other officials have not been seen, but it is more than likely that their make-up will swell the list of careless- ness in the execution of the seal of state as it should be.
On the title page of what is commonly termed "Deady's Code" can be seen an- other fac-simile. It is the same in form as No. 6, except as to date, which is left off, and as to the territorial motto which appears over it. Compare this fac-simile with the description of the state seal, found on page 496 of such book, and note differences.
..
STATE ......
..
ORECON
........
THE UNIC
.......
1859
No. 7.
On the east and west wings of the state capitol, equally faulty fac-similes are placed, and the stone which Oregon cor- tributed toward the building of the mon- ument erected at the national capitol, in memory of Washington, is not as it should be, in commemoration of a man "who never told a lie." On this slab is found an emblem purporting to be a fac- simile of our seal of state. It has in the upper compartment the extra setting sun of No. 8, and in the lower the extra sheaf and rake of No. 6, and the escutcheon is supported by only 30 stars. The next time an Oregonian tells the story of the "hatchet" he.ought to be struck with one.
author might well be ashamed of it, not only because of the work of execution, but for the mistakes. It has the extra to the legend; not enough stars, and the objects within the escutcheon are a mix- ture of all the faults found in the fac- similes heretofore described. It has been said that such history contains many in- accuracies. This is one. The charter plates, which the Grand Cabin issues to subordinate Cabins, have in the display heading the 38-star 1857 fac-simile of the larger size, and may be so used be- cause it is a part of our pioneer history. Our great daily adopted in its infancy a part of the fac-simile of the 1857 seal, and on all the bronze-lock attachments on the doors in its grand building it can be found. These fixtures were made in the East, and it was a cold day at the time of casting, for summer's sheaf is wanting, and snow shovel takes the place of pick- axe.
In the last fac-simile (No. 9) will be found all that the law provides for the seal of state. Compare it with . No. 8, which is a fair copy of the one in the office of the secretary of state, and draw your own conclusions.
The act which describes the seal says that it "shall be," etc., and the instruc- tions to the secretary, in relation to the securing of a state seal, are just as man-
STATE
E
1 SEAL
OREGON
1859,
No. 8.
(atory. A something else does not, can- not carry out such mandate. Article
In Bancroft's history of Oregon can be found an imprint of what is said to V, section 18, of the constitution says: be a facsimile of our state seal The "All commissions shall issue in the name
-
-
27
OREGON WITHOUT A SEAL OF STATE.
of the state, shall be signed by the gov- ernor, sealed with the seal of the state, and attested by the secretary of state."
OF
ATE
****** OREGON
.S
THE UNION
No. 9.
We have no state seal and never had one, only a pretended one. What are you
going to do about it? We would re- spectfully suggest that a state seal be se- cured which will meet all requirements of the law in relation thereto. It would not be amiss if a new act was passed pro- viding that the state seal should have objects thereon indicative of the days of the "prairie schooner," coupled with the pioneer's vision of what Oregon is and can become; and that all past efforts, to- gether with fac-similes shown, be turned over to keepers of historical relics and placed in the curio department.
F. H. S.
AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER OF MRS. WHITMAN.
The following letter was addressed to Miss Maria Pambrun, who subsequently married Dr. Forbes Barkley:
Waiilatpu, July 7, 1842 .- My Dear Maria: Your kind letter was duly re- ceived, and merited a most ready reply; but my engagements for more than two months past have rendered it impossible to do so, it being the time of our general meeting. We had a more general at- tendance this year than formerly; Messrs. Walker, Eellsand their families were pres- ent; also Mr. Spalding; Mrs. S. and chil- dren did not come. They were here about a month. And, besides, I had the pleasure of entertaining our mutual friend, Mrs. McKinlay, for five weeks, during which time she gave birth to a lovely little daughter. the almost perfect image of its father. She is a very quiet child. They left here a short time since, and now I am once more alone, busy with the cares and instructions of my little family, which, by the way, increases as my neighbors do, yet in a different way. We have taken a little boy whom we call David Malin. He is the son of a Span- iard by a Walla Walla woman. When I give you some items of his short his- tory, you will not wonder why I could
not shut my heart and doors against the poor and friendless stranger. He is probably 2 years old, and last winter was put down into a hole at Walla Walla by his inhuman mother and left to starve to death; but he was found by the Indians. At another time he was found by the in- terpreter at W. W. in the same place, sur- rounded by children, who were gratifying an evil heart by burning his naked body with sticks of fire; when he was brought to me he had several deep sores upon him. He is a bright, active child, and learns to talk English faster than either of the other two. Should we succeed in keeping him without too much perplexity from his relatives, we hope he will prove. to be of some use in the world.
Itwould afford me much satisfaction to see your dear mother again. I hope she enjoys health this summer. Do write me all about her. She has much to do in the care of so many children, now her earthly support is taken away from her; and she feels to lean with more firmness upon you, dear Maria, as her eldest daughter. the sharer in her toils and sufferings.
I regret that it is not in my power to comply with your mother's request at this
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
Photo by Browning. GEO. W. McBRIDE, United States Senator.
Photo by Gifford, The Dalles. MALCOLM A. MOODY, Congressman Second District.
Photo by Cronise, Salem. HOMER C. DAVENPORT. World-Famous Cartoonist.
Photo by Cronise, Salem. ROBERT S. BEAN, Supreme Judge.
NATIVE SONS OF OREGON.
29
TROUT FISHING.
time. Our broomcorn did not do well Husband unites with me in love to last year, and for that reason we have your dear mother, yourself, and all the be- none to send. We shall endeavor to loved ones of the family, not forgetting the little favorite, Sarah. keep in mind the request and send at some future period when the corn is Hoping soon to hear from you, I sub- scribe myself, your sincere friend, grown.
NARCISSA WHITMAN.
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TROUT FISHING.
AN ALLEGORY AND ITS LESSON.
Two of our citizens went out to catch fish. One of them was a practical, far- seeing business man, who, though cau- - tious, was on the alert and prompt to act when success seemed within reach. The other, no less progressive, was, however, inclined to neglect careful consideration of important questions, and was too apt to trust in quantity rather than quality.
The equipment each believed neces- sary was obtained by the anglers, and one morning they started for the fishing grounds. On arrival, they found their opinions differed as to the methods of catching the sought-for fish, and it was agreed that each go his own way, and afterward compare results.
One started up stream and the other down. The one going down believed in doing things on a grand scale, and he carried with him what he thought, judg- ing by its high price and size, would be just the thing to tempt the trout to run after and swallow his hook. The bait in question was the side of a fat steer. Reaching an opening on the creek's bank where its waters looked as though there might be plenty of the finny prizes, he hastened to throw in the whole side of beef. The trout, of whom there were many, being unused to such quantities, hastily withdrew from the scene, and the disgusted fisherman went home with the "proverbial luck" of the unfortunate.
The upstream angler had provided himself with flies and grasshoppers for bait, which he attached to his hook and gently cast it into the stream, and imme- diately there was a rush to catch the tempting morsels. This procedure he repeated till all his bait was exhausted. On his return home he was burdened with trout, and his friends doubted his word as to their number, and were not slow to make him so understand.
We all know the trout is the most wary, the most gamey, the most prized and the most difficult to catch of all the finny tribe; just like an enterprising, practical man of means and thrift, with no time for generalities; the class of men Oregon needs to swell its popula- tion, encourage present industries and build up others; dig from its mines its vast mineral wealth; utilize its limitless timber; plant its broad acres in grain, flax, hops and fruits. Such men have no idle hours to pass. Try to catch them with the downstream fisherman's bulky mass of words and heavy immi- gration books, such as is generally sent abroad concerning our state, and the at- tempt will usually fail. If, however, the upstream method were pursued, they would nibble at the small bait, and, liking the taste, would not rest content till they had found the place where such truths could be practically tested, and that would mean their ultimate immigration
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
to Oregon, thus adding others to help build up its best interests and promote its welfare.
The advertising heretofore sent out to induce immigration has been too bulky -books too large for the trout, as it were - among the people of the East, to find time to read. If the ex- pense of issuing this heavy class of liter- ature was expended in sending forth articles, brief and to the point. this de- sired class of immigrants would thereby grasp the fact that in Oregon are the
opportunities by which a live man can improve his surroundings. And live men are promoters, introduce and push improvements, and bring into successful operation the industries which provide for the employment of thousands. All of the articles in this magazine are short ones. A business man can read any of them in a moment of waiting, and what he reads is condensed, to the point, and he will remember their wording. So with the business men of the East. Send them copies and mark the result.
HOLLISTER D. M'GUIRE, LATE STATE FISH COMMISSIONER. (See Purple and Gold-l'age 39.)
COURT IN YAMHILL IN 1846.
Judge-Sheriff, call John and James John- son.
Sheriff-John and James Johnson! John and James Johnson! John and James John- son! Come into court.
Judge-Call one at a time.
Sheriff-Come one at a time! Come one at a time! Come one at a time!
Judge-You've fixed it, now!
Sheriff-You needn't come; they've fixed it without you! You needn't come; they've fixed it without you! You needn't come; they've fixed it without you !- Oregon Spec- tator.
Oregon was the thirty-third state admitted into the Union.
HOMES IN OREGON.
The area of Oregon is 96,030 square miles, or 61,459,200 acres. Of this vast domain but 3,000,000 are in cultivation, leaving 58,459,200 acres for the home- seeker. True, a great portion of this un- cultivated portion is covered with timber, and some of it unfitted for farms; still, there are millions of acres that are as good land as there is anywhere on the globe. Oregon is larger by 2.240,000 acres than the combined acreages of New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York,
New Jersey and Delaware. If it were as thickly peopled as Rhode Island it would contain a population of 30.729,600, and if as densely settled as England it would give habitation to 51,933,024 people. Put its acreage capable of cultivation to use : open up its mines to their full: bring its immense water power under control : plant the many and varied industries known in her midst; begin to utilize her forests with a will, and Oregon would with England's population almost dictate to the world.
T
31
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AN INTERESTING LETTER.
AN INTERESTING LETTER.
Jefferson City, Mo., Jan. 15, 1899 .- T. A. Wood, Grand Commander Indian War Veterans-Mr. Dear Sir: I never desired a biography of myself to be writ- ten. The world and mankind are not interested in my adventures, struggles, afflictions, sad bereavements and tender affections. The pen of no true friend, or myself, can at this time furnish thought to illuminate my very dark path- way this far in life. It seems to me now that there was never a sound reason, or necessity, for my having to breathe, but, as I did breathe, it has always seemed to me that I should have breathed the sweetest, brightest and balmiest air on earth. I am now convinced that the world never wanted me, as no important place was created for me to fill. Lieu- tenant Thomas J. Small was born in Mount Pleasant, Maury county, Tennes- see, December 9, 1834, and spent his boyhood days there, in attending school and in learning a trade with his father. He came of steady Scotch-Irish stock. He moved to Missouri with his father in 1852, and settled in Otterville, Cooper county, in May. In the spring of 1853 he spread his wings, left his home nest and started across the plains for Ore- Kon. to build for himself, if posible, a home nest on the Pacific slope. He was six months and eleven days crossing the plains, and settled in the town of Champoeg, Marion county, in the fall of 1853. Champoeg was a small, old town, built on the bank of the beautiful Willamette river, at the head of steam- 'wat navigation in summer, 25 miles irom Salem or Oregon City. Much his- tory of Oregon springs from this place. It was here Lieutenant Small formed the acquaintance of Robert Newell. J.
D. Crawford, David Weston, John How- ard, Ed Dupuise, John Mull, Hiram Simpkins, Reese, John and Mark Steph- ens, and Green Arnold, American pio- neers and history-makers. Also with hundreds of French pioneers, among whom were N. A. Connoyer, Antoin Re- vais, Chamberlains, Joseph Despard and many others. It was here he first met O. Hummason, of The Dalles, Victor Trevitt, of Salem, and John Smith, from across the river near Butteville. In the summer of 1854 he was in the Rogue river country with Mr. Hyde, a govern- ment surveyor, who had a contract to survey and plat 76 townships in that part of the territory.
An Indian war broke out in Eastern Oregon and Washington in 1855, and, under a proclamation of Governor George L. Curry, Connoyer, Revais and Small recruited a company at Cham- poeg, of French, French half-breeds and four or five Americans, most all of whom were from French prairie. Narcisse A. Connover was elected captain, A. Revais first lieutenant and T. J. Small second lieutenant. The organization was known as company K, was mustered in at Port- land, October 30, 1855, and immediately started for The Dalles, by way of Fort Vancouver and the Cascades. With the beginning of this march the company commenced to make history for itself and Oregon. The greatest mistake pos- sible for any man to make is to endeavor to correct errors of early historians from memory. It is well known that a great majority of men are born into this world without a good thinking apparatus on their shoulders, but, if I differ from some of your early historians, I hope they will not accuse me of thinking wrong.
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
I was quietly puffing at my meer- schaum - a Missouri cob - when "The History of Indian Wars in Oregon" came to hand. I drew a meditative whiff and gave a low whistle, as I opened it at "The Yakima War" and then commenced to devour its contents. After reading the part devoted to the Oregon troops, the thought came to me, If this is true his- tory, Lieutenant T. J. Small was not in any Indian war, company K was never enlisted, Governor Curry never issued a proclamation calling for volunteers, and such men as J. W. Nesmith, James K. Kelly, Mark A. Chinn and Narcisse A. Connoyer never existed, except in the prolific imagination of myself, and all my day dreams, for forty-odd years, of being engaged in an Indian war in East- ern Oregon, must be a myth. So all my visions of those days vanished in smoke. All historians and makers of history should remember that character and rep- utation for fairness, truth and honor, is the most enduring of riches. No one expects a historian to be generous, but he is expected to be truthful and just.
The march to the relief of Major Hal- ler, through snow and extreme cold, by the First regiment, O. M. V., and the incidents connected with it, is hardly no- ticed. All who made that march, through snow, sometimes three feet deep, and a bitter cold wind, will remember it through life. The command found Ma- jor Haller, and returned with him in safety to The Dalles, from which point Captain Connoyer was ordered to march immediately to Fort Henrietta, to rein- force Major Mark A. Chinn, which he did. Captain Connoyer, with company K, arrived at Fort Henrietta Novem- ber 27, and went into camp outside the fort. With it arrived Lieutenant-Colo- nel James K. Kelly. I know not with whom he left The Dalles, but I am sure he arrived at Fort Henrietta under es-
cort of company K. Here I met for the first time the brave, noble, warm-hearted and generous Major Mark A. Chinn, who built the fort and named it, but for this work he was secretly charged with cowardice by some of his small under- officers. At the battle of Laroque's farm these same men learned who the cow- ards were, and Major Chinn was not one of them. A braver, truer and kinder man I never met in the army. Sweet to me, even now, is the memory of this no- ble man.
Upon arriving at Fort Henrietta, Lieu- tenant-Colonel Kelly took command. He called a council of war, at which it was decided to move at once for Fort Walla Walla. Orders were given to prepare rations and be ready to move at sun- down, December 2, which was done. It rained most of the night and was very dark, still our little force moved on si- lently. I know not when other compa- nies arrived at Fort Walla Walla, but ours got there with both feet, a little after sunrise. We found the fort robbed and plundered, the interior badly defaced, and the Indian devils gone. We went into camp a short distance from the fort on the morning of the 3d. On the 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th we skirmished with In- dians. Company K marched alone into Indian valley, into a deep ravine on the Touchet river, and scouted all that coun- try, returning to Meina camp, at the mouth of the Touchet, on the night of the 6th. Peu Peu Mox Mox, or Yellow Serpent, and those with him were killed, and the body of Peu Peu Mox Mox mu- tilated, ears cut off, scalped and other in- dignities, on the night of December 6, in camp at mouth of Touchet river, and nor during the battle at Laroque's farm. On the morning of the 7th, the Indians came down from the hills across the Touchet, under a flag of truce, and demanded the release of their chief and the other pris-
.
33
FIRST MARRIAGE IN OREGON.
oners. After exchanging flags a few times, Lieutenant-Colonel Kelly ordered Captain N. A. Connoyer and Captain O. Hummason, with their companies, to cross the Touchet and take position to defend camp. Company K moved across. Hummason, with the Wasco boys, followed, and one other company, not now remembered, and soon the four days' fight was on, known as the battle of Laroque's farm. We had fun chasing the red-skinned beauties seven miles, but, when the entire force of Indians met us at Laroque's farm, the fun was over, and business of vital importance was on hand, for it kept us all busy to retain scalps on our heads. For four days this bitter and hard-contested battle raged, no one knowing what the result might be. Every inch of ground was fought over, and the contending forces camped in sight of each other. To the music of the tom-tom Indians danced the scalp dance every night. Stubborn pluck of the whites at last scattered the Indians, with a loss to them of about 180. If any of the First regiment, O. M. V.s, had bayonets on their guns I failed to see them, and my eyes were wide open.
so those bayonet charges are pure fic- tion. The howitzer that exploded did so from being loaded with trind balls and sand, the balls having been poured out on the sand. I, with company K, was near when it happened.
On December 9, 1855, Lieutenant T. J. Small was 21 years old, and in battle with Indians in Walla Walla valley. Have never celebrated my birthday in the same way. After the battle of Laroque's farm the command moved to Howlish Wam- pool camp, where he had built a fort to protect himself, friendly Indians and set- tlers from bad Indians. Found them all safe and winter coming on. The Indi- ans and settlers were moved on to the Walla Walla river, and Lieutenant T. J. Small, with a part of company K, de- tailed to guard them and their property. Remained with them until spring. The main camp was in winter quarters, 14 miles away. Colonel Cornelius will, or should, know this statement true, as he was in my camp, after cattle-but, will close this. May some day finish my rambling story. Respectfully yours,
T. J. SMALL.
JULY 16, 1837, FIRST MARRIAGE IN OREGON.
On the above date occurred the first marriage ceremony among the whites west of the Rockies. It was a double wedding. The grooms had come here in "prairie schooners" and the brides in -hips via Panama. The ceremony was performed in a grove of firs in front of !!! Methodist mission, situate some ten miles below where Salem now stands, where the greater number of the settlers in the Willamette valley had assembled for religious worship. The services were conducted by Rev. Daniel Lee, and he
the knots which made Miss Anna M. Pit- man the wife of Rev. Jason Lee, and Miss Susan Downing the bride of Mr. Cyrus Shepherd. After these happy couples were joined in wedlock, the minister con- tinued the welding of matrimonial bonds by uniting in marriage Charles J. Roc. ar. American, and Miss Nancy Mckay, a Calipooia Indian maiden. Mrs. Les was not only the first white bride in Ore- gon, but, sad to relate, slie was also the first to be claimed by death therein, such occurring on the 26th of June in the
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OREGON NATIVE SON.
THE ROYAL CHINOOK AS AN IN- DUSTRY.
The first time that salmon figured as a commercial factor in Oregon was in 1835. Captain Nathaniel J. Wythe es- tablished a trading post at the lower end of Wapato-Sauvie's-island, and in con- nection therewith put up salmon in bar- rels. His trading venture proving a fail- ure he sold out his stock and abandoned the catching of fish. He had, however, caught and barreled a half schooner's load, which he had shipped away to mar- ket. A few like ventures were after- wards begun at Oregon City and West- port and did not amount to much. In 1866 the first salmon were put up in cans for market, and from that time until the present it is estimated that at least 900,- 000,000 pounds have been taken from the Columbia and Oregon waters- enough to supply every man, woman and child in the state with 215 pounds each. It would supply every inhabitant in the United States with 10 pounds, and a can to all of the world, outside of the people of the Chinese empire, and a pound and a half to each of the Celestials.
A COMMISSION OF 1844.
As a relic of the provisional govern- ment of the state, when it had a triple executive, the following document will be interesting. It is quite a coincidence that each signer had but one initial, and all such short names:
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