Tag: tichenor

General History, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, Rogue Valley, Siletz Reservation, treaties1 Comment

Battle Rock the First Colonization on the Southern Oregon Coast

David G. Lewis, PhD

In July 1851, Captain William Tichenor decided to begin his project to colonize and claim the Port Orford area. He envisioned that the establishment of a town at Port Orford would be an entry point for gold miners into SW Oregon. Tichenor originally hired his band of men from Portland, O.T., promising them that the Indians in the region were peaceful. Tichenor convinced his men that they did not need much armament and that arms would only provoke the Natives. He said he had visited the area many times and the Indians were always welcoming. Still his engages choose to … Continue reading Battle Rock the First Colonization on the Southern Oregon Coast

coos bay, General History, Oral History, Oregon Coast, Oregon indians, Rogue Valley, Siletz Reservation, Umpqua Valley1 Comment

Indian Catchers of Coastal Oregon 1850s

David G. Lewis, PhD

A truly remarkable fact of Oregon history presented itself while conducting some coastal research. In 1856 and for years after, the Indian agents employed and contracted with enterprising individuals to seek out and capture Indians still remaining in the lands or escaped from the reservations, and return them. The image recalled when hearing about this profession, is that of the Child Catcher in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In the movie, this truly evil character went around German towns hunting down children to imprison them, using candy for enticement. The Child Catcher is perhaps a direct reference to how the … Continue reading Indian Catchers of Coastal Oregon 1850s