Month: January 2018

assimilation, General History, Oregon indians, treatiesLeave a comment

Differential Immigration and Citizenship in the 19th Century in Oregon

David G. Lewis, PhD

The immigration debate that is being discussed nationally, has caused me to think about what immigration was like in the 19th century in Oregon. Too often today immigrants are discussed as being synonymous with “criminals” as if the very action of immigration is a criminal act. But, as many know, immigration into the USA has been one of the mainstays of the American democracy, its how the US got so many people from so many countries seeking a new country to survive and thrive in. In the 19th century Americans took to immigrating into the Oregon Territory without requesting this … Continue reading Differential Immigration and Citizenship in the 19th Century in Oregon

General History, Oregon indians, Rogue Valley, treaties7 Comments

Treaty of Peace with the Rogue River Tribes, September 8, 1853

David G. Lewis, PhD

Previous to the seven ratified treaties with the tribes of western Oregon there were two treaties of peace with the Rogue River tribes. The treaty of 1850, is mentioned in a few documents, but no text thus far has been produced (as far as I am aware). However, the 1853 Treaty of Peace is well described in many scholarly texts (Whaley OE, Schwartz 1997), and there is a copy of the treaty in microfilm records (M234 Oregon R. 608). I do not recall that the original treaty has been recovered in federal archives. The treaty is not noted among the … Continue reading Treaty of Peace with the Rogue River Tribes, September 8, 1853

General History, Kalapuya, Oral History, Oregon indians, Willamette ValleyLeave a comment

Henry B. Nichols recalls the Calapooians, 1903

David G. Lewis, PhD

Henry Brainard Nichols, was a school teacher and state legislator from Benton County, Oregon. He was born 1821 in Lyme, Connecticut, and attended Wesleyan University at Middletown. In 1847 he started for Oregon, arrived in 1852, and settled in Benton County. He began teaching in the Belknap Settlement and took 319.75 acres as a donation land claim. Later, his lands increased to 1,200 acres, situated four miles west of Monroe. He served in the Constitutional Convention (1858) and several terms in the Territorial and State legislatures. He was a clerk in School district No. 26 for over thirty years.   … Continue reading Henry B. Nichols recalls the Calapooians, 1903

education, General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, treaties, Willamette Valley2 Comments

The Willamette Valley Treaty Podcast for the Grand Ronde Tribe

David G. Lewis, PhD

The ratified treaties series, just completed today (1/17/2018), was inspired by a request from Dean Rhodes, Media Director at Grand Ronde, for me to tape a podcast about the Willamette Valley Treaty, as its anniversary is coming up soon. I figured, I should write a post about each treaty, and include the treaties so people can easily find them. Dean is a great newspaper manager and has allowed me to place stories and editorials into the paper over the years. He has been patient, as I am not a journalist and my writing style can be a bit dry. So … Continue reading The Willamette Valley Treaty Podcast for the Grand Ronde Tribe

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Oregon indians, Rogue Valley, Siletz Reservation, treatiesLeave a comment

Rogue River Treaty of 1854, Negotiated November 15, 1854, Ratified March 3, 1855

David G. Lewis, PhD

The second Rogue River Treaty, that of 1854, was a treaty of peace and ratifying the joint occupancy of the Table Rock Reservation by many tribes subject to the treaty in the region. The Chasta treaty of 1854 states that the tribe will remove to Table Rock Reservation, where the Rogue River Tribes are already removed too. This treaty of 1854, ratified that the tribes will live peacefully on the reservation, and confederate together. There is no additional land ceded in this treaty. Tribes in the region would typically raid one another for slaves and resources. It was common for … Continue reading Rogue River Treaty of 1854, Negotiated November 15, 1854, Ratified March 3, 1855