Fear of the Kalapuyans Fearing of “Indians” in the 1850s in Oregon was a real and powerful feeling among the white settlers. Tribal people did not live like white people, did not obey the laws of the United States and seemed to have their own harsh forms of justice. As such, the humanity of the … [Read more…]
Reverend Jason Lee established the first Methodist Mission near Champoeg in 1835. By 1839 the mission had been damaged by flood waters and Lee established another farm and school in what is now downtown Salem. Lee had the sawmill built first, and with the sawed timbers built first the grist mill then his house on … [Read more…]
The Battle of Abiqua In February 1848, six months after the Whitman Massacre, the settlers in the Willamette valley were very tense, concerned that the tribes would gather together and attack. Many of the men had volunteered for a militia and were in eastern Oregon for the Cayuse War, so additional citizen militia were established … [Read more…]
Three days after signing the Willamette Valley Treaty (January 22, 1855) with the tribes of the Willamette Valley and Columbia River, Joel Palmer Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon, sent the treaty to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Manypenny. Palmer sent with the treaty an accompanying letter explaining the treaty and documenting the other promises … [Read more…]
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 … [Read more…]