Tag: palmer

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Native Issues, Oregon indians, Uncategorized, Willamette Valley2 Comments

The Temporary Reservation on the Guilford W. Warden DLC, Yamhill County

David G. Lewis, PhD

Guilford W. Warden  was an emigre into the Oregon Territory in 1850. He had a donation land claim in Yamhill County near the South Yamhill River and Salt Creek. It was claim number 1822, was 638.89 acres, and was located in the GLO map grid of Township 6, Range 5.  This land claim was surveyed in 1858 and has associated journal recordings of the DLC. He married Lydia Ann Goodrich of Polk County in 1851. Joel Palmer, the Indian superintendent for Oregon, appears to have established a temporary Indian reservation on the Warden DLC in 1855.     Contemporaneous with … Continue reading The Temporary Reservation on the Guilford W. Warden DLC, Yamhill County

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Oregon indians, Siletz Reservation, Uncategorized1 Comment

Chaos in the First Year: Oregon Reservations

David G. Lewis, PhD

In the first year of the Oregon Reservations, Grand Ronde, Warm Springs, and the Coast reservation, 1856-1857, there was a change in leadership in the office of the Indian Superintendent. Joel Palmer was replaced in August 1856 by Absalom F. Hedges, over complaints that Palmer was too supportive of and lenient with the tribes, and located the warlike Rogue Rivers near the Willamette settlements. There was great fears that the tribes would rise up on the reservations and attack the settlers. These fears were unfounded as long as the federal government kept its promise to the tribes to care and … Continue reading Chaos in the First Year: Oregon Reservations

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Native Issues, Oregon indians, Rogue Valley, Uncategorized2 Comments

Foolish Indians and Bad Whites; Palmer advises George and Limpy, April 1856

David G. Lewis, PhD

Joel Palmer  (Oregon Indian Superintendent) writes from Dayton April 24, 1856, after receiving a letter From Indian Agent George Ambrose. Palmer is at this time heavily engaged in making arrangements for the tribes to remove to the Grand Ronde Reservation. The Cascade Attacks have happened and he is most concerned with the removal of the tribes on the Columbia and removal of the Molalla. At the same time in southwest Oregon, the Rogue River Confederacy under Chief John has left the Table Rock Reservation and began attacking American settlements in a westward path. Chief John has attracted several tribes to … Continue reading Foolish Indians and Bad Whites; Palmer advises George and Limpy, April 1856

General History, Native Issues, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, Uncategorized12 Comments

Massacre at the Chetko Villages, 1853

David G. Lewis, PhD

The following is a direct transcription of a report from Joel Palmer of the Chetco Massacre of 1853. This is a well-known massacre on the southern Oregon Coast, and referenced in many of the ethnographies and Native histories of the area. In the account Palmer describes a grisly scene of a successful attack on two Chetko villages, burning the men in their houses, shooting many, and completely destroying both villages over a period of two days. Some people survive this account but life for them will never be the same. Palmer references an attack and massacre of the Tolowa villages … Continue reading Massacre at the Chetko Villages, 1853

General History, Grand Ronde Reservation, Oregon indians, Uncategorized, Willamette Valley3 Comments

The Louis’ Band of Santiam Indians Reservation 1855

David G. Lewis, PhD

In March of 1855, Joel Palmer was working on securing  temporary reservations to locate the various bands of Kalapuya Indians in the Willamette Valley. The promises of the Willamette Valley treaty of January 22, 1855, were that the tribes would cede their lands to the United States for some money, for services, and for a permanent reservation to live out their days. But at the time there was not yet a reservation prepared. Palmer was working with the US military stationed at Fort Vancouver to create the reservation. The Louis Band of Santiams was perhaps the most prominent band of … Continue reading The Louis’ Band of Santiam Indians Reservation 1855