Dr. John McLoughlin, the Father of Oregon Part 16

narrative, and the description of the facilities which were ever afforded him, to the following pa.s.sage from Sir Edward Belcher's voyage:

"The difference of the reception which a frigate of the United States Navy met with, from that which one of Her Majesty's s.h.i.+ps experienced, is a most suspicious fact, as suggesting the animus of the Company's agents upon the north-west coast. Sir Edward Belcher says: 'The attention of the Chief to myself, and those immediately about me, particularly in sending down fresh supplies, previous to my arrival, I feel fully grateful for; but I cannot conceal my disappointment at the want of accommodation exhibited towards the crews of the vessels under my command, in a British possession.'

"We certainly were not distressed, nor was it imperatively necessary that fresh beef and vegetables should be supplied, or I should have made a formal demand. But as regarded those who might come after, and not improbably myself among the number, I inquired in direct terms what facilities Her Majesty's s.h.i.+ps of war might expect, in the event of touching at this port for bullocks, flour, vegetables, &c. I certainly was extremely surprised at the reply, that 'they were not in a condition to supply.'... The American policy of the Hudson's Bay Company would seem from the above facts, to be more than a matter of suspicion.

"It is very easy to say, these are idle tales; they are tales--but such tales, that Parliament ought to make a searching investigation into their truth.... It is certain that Dr. McLoughlin has now left the Hudson's Bay Company, and has become _nominally_, what he seems to have been for years, _really_--an _American citizen_, living in the midst of an American population, which he collected around him, upon soil, to which he knew that his own country had, all along, laid claim."

Sir Edward Belcher's exploring expedition was at Fort Vancouver in August, 1839. He insisted that the crews of his vessels should be supplied with fresh beef. Dr. McLoughlin was not then at Fort Vancouver.

Probably he had not returned from his trip to England in 1838-9. Mr.

Douglas, who was in charge, refused Belcher's request because the supply of cattle was not sufficient for that purpose. Fresh beef was supplied to Sir Edward Belcher and his officers.

Commodore Wilkes and his exploring expedition were on the Oregon Coast in 1841. He did not ask for his crews to be supplied with provisions. He was grateful for the kind treatment of himself, his officers and men, by Dr. McLoughlin and other officers of the Hudson's Bay Company. Sir Edward Belcher, it seems, was not grateful.[70]

In relation to the Red River immigrants, who arrived in 1841, the statement of Fitzgerald is mostly untrue. These settlers came to Oregon in 1841 under the auspices of the Hudson's Bay Company and settled on Nisqually Plains, near Puget Sound. These plains are almost sterile, being an enormous bed of very fine gravel mixed with some soil at the surface. It is easy to understand how these settlers were disappointed in living by themselves on the Nisqually Plains, when they could come to the Willamette Valley with its fertile soil and be near the settlers in the Willamette Valley. It must be borne in mind that when these Red River settlers went to the Willamette Valley, they were practically as much dependent on the Hudson's Bay Company and Dr. McLoughlin, as though they had stayed on the Nisqually Plains.

Rev. Daniel Lee and Rev. J. H. Frost wrote a book ent.i.tled "Ten Years in Oregon," which was printed in New York in 1844. On page 216 of that work they say of these settlers from Red River: "They went to Nesqually, on Pugit's Sound; but, after spending a year, it was found that the land was of a very inferior quality, and that they could not subsist upon it.

Thus, after having subjected themselves to many hards.h.i.+ps, and privations, and losses, for almost two years, they had yet to remove to the Walamet Valley, as promising to remunerate them for their future toil, and make them forget the past. Accordingly most of them removed and settled in the Walamet in 1841-2."

DOc.u.mENT R

_Note on authors.h.i.+p of "History of Oregon" in Bancroft's Works; and sources of information for this monograph._

Hubert Howe Bancroft obtained a fine collection of books and pamphlets relating to early Oregon and a great deal of other information before the "History of Oregon," in his Works, was written. A great many Oregon pioneers were personally interviewed and their statements reduced to writing. He also borrowed, on a promise to return, a great many private papers and other doc.u.ments, including letters and copies of letters from the heirs of Dr. McLoughlin and from other Oregon pioneers and heirs of pioneers, which he has not yet returned, although he borrowed these papers and doc.u.ments more than twenty years ago. Said "History of Oregon" is largely supplemented by foot-notes taken from this information obtained, or caused to be obtained by Bancroft. The defense of Dr. McLoughlin to the report of Capt. Warre and Lieut. Vavasour, was afterwards returned to Dr. McLoughlin by James Douglas, to whom it was sent by Sir George Simpson. It was among the papers loaned to Bancroft.

While Bancroft was a handy man in collecting materials, he wisely employed Frances Fuller Victor, Oregon's best and greatest historian, to write the "History of Oregon" for his Works. It was largely, if not wholly, written by her. This applies particularly to that part of the history up to and including the year 1850. For years she had been a careful student of Oregon history. She had access to all the data collected by Bancroft.

In 1871 Mrs. Victor published "The River of the West" which sets forth many of the facts about Dr. McLoughlin, his land claim, and the actions of the missionaries and the conspirators against him, which are contained in this address and in the "History of Oregon" in Bancroft's Works. Volume one of the latter history was published in 1886, and volume two was published in 1888.

In writing this monograph on Dr. McLoughlin I have found _The River of the West_ and Bancroft's _History of Oregon_ of some use, especially where the information was taken from the doc.u.ments so borrowed by Bancroft. But I have obtained most of my facts from original sources.

Wherever it was possible I have consulted Oregon newspapers and books and pamphlets written by persons who took part in the events described, or which were written contemporaneous therewith, and letters written by pioneers.

The Oregon Historical Society has a number of original letters, files of early Oregon newspapers, and other doc.u.ments relating to events in early Oregon. Many of these I have examined and taken copies of. In this I have been greatly aided by Mr. George H. Himes, for years the efficient a.s.sistant Secretary of the Oregon Historical Society, and Secretary of the Oregon Pioneer a.s.sociation. I have also obtained copies from two issues of the _Oregon Spectator_ in the possession of the University of Oregon, through the courtesy of Prof. Frederic G. Young.

DOc.u.mENT S

_Excerpts from opinions of contemporaries of Dr. McLoughlin._

In addition to opinions of Dr. McLoughlin set forth in the address, I here set forth excerpts from other opinions, given by some of his contemporaries. I have selected these out of many high opinions and eulogies upon Dr. McLoughlin.

Judge Matthew P. Deady, in an address before the Oregon Pioneer a.s.sociation, in 1876, said:[71] "Dr. John McLoughlin was Chief Factor of the Company [Hudson's Bay Company] west of the Rocky mountains, from 1824 to 1845, when he resigned the position and settled at Oregon City, where he died in 1857, full of years and honor.... Although, as an officer of the Company, his duty and interest required that he should prefer it to the American immigrant or missionary, yet at the call of humanity, he always forgot all special interests, and was ever ready to help and succor the needy and unfortunate of whatever creed or clime.

"Had he but turned his back upon the early missionary or settler and left them to s.h.i.+ft for themselves, the occupation of the country by Americans would have been seriously r.e.t.a.r.ded, and attended with much greater hards.h.i.+p and suffering than it was. For at least a quarter of a century McLoughlin was a grand and potent figure in the affairs of the Pacific slope.... But he has long since gone to his rest. Peace to his ashes! Yet the good deeds done in the body are a lasting monument to his memory, and shall in due time cause his name to be written in letters of gold in Oregon history."

Governor Peter H. Burnett, from whose "Recollections and Opinions of An Old Pioneer," I have already quoted, also said in that book (pp. 143, 144): "Dr. John McLoughlin was one of the greatest and most n.o.ble philanthropists I ever knew. He was a man of superior ability, just in all his dealings, and a faithful Christian. I never knew a man of the world who was more admirable. I never heard him utter a vicious sentiment, or applaud a wrongful act. His views and acts were formed upon the model of the Christian gentleman. He was a superior business man, and a profound judge of human nature.... In his position of Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company he had grievous responsibilities imposed upon him. He stood between the absent directors and stockholders of the Company and the present suffering immigrants. He witnessed their sufferings; they did not. He was unjustly blamed by many of both parties. It was not the business of the Company to deal upon credit; and the manager of its affairs in Oregon was suddenly thrown into a new and very embarra.s.sing position. How to act, so as to secure the approbation of the directors and stockholders in England, and at the same time not to disregard the most urgent calls of humanity, was indeed the great difficulty. No possible line of conduct could have escaped censure.

"To be placed in such a position was a misfortune which only a good man could bear in patience. I was a.s.sured by Mr. Frank Ermatinger, the manager of the Company's store at Oregon City, as well as by others, that Dr. McLoughlin had sustained a heavy individual loss by his charity to the immigrants. I knew enough myself to be certain that these statements were substantially true. Yet such was the humility of the Doctor that he never, to my knowledge, mentioned or alluded to any particular act of charity performed by him. I was intimate with him, and he never mentioned them to me."

Col. J. W. Nesmith,[72] from whose address in 1876 I have already quoted, in that address also said:[73] "Dr. John McLoughlin was a public benefactor, and the time will come when the people of Oregon will do themselves credit by erecting a statue to his memory.... Thus far detraction and abuse have been his princ.i.p.al rewards."

Hon. Willard H. Rees, a pioneer of 1844, in his address before the Oregon Pioneer a.s.sociation, in 1879, said:[74] "Dr. McLoughlin, as director of the affairs of the Hudson's Bay Company west of the Rocky mountains, had more power over the Indians of the whole Northwest Coast, which he judiciously exercised, than all other influences multiplied and combined. He was a great and just man, having in no instance deceived them, firm in maintaining the established rules regulating their intercourse, making their supplies, so far as the Company was concerned, strictly depend upon their own efforts and good conduct, always prompt to redress the slightest infraction of good faith. This sound undeviating policy made Dr. McLoughlin the most humane and successful manager of the native tribes this country has ever known, while the Indians both feared and respected him above all other men.... Dr.

McLoughlin was no ordinary personage. Nature had written in her most legible hand preeminence in every lineament of his strong Scotch face, combining in a marked degree all the native dignity of an intellectual giant. He stood among his pioneer contemporaries like towering old [Mount] Hood amid the evergreen heights that surround his mountain home--a born leader of men. He would have achieved distinction in any of the higher pursuits of life.... His benevolent work was confined to no church, sect nor race of men, but was as broad as suffering humanity, never refusing to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and provide for the sick and toilworn immigrants and needy settlers who called for a.s.sistance at his old Vancouver home. Many were the pioneer mothers and their little ones, whose hearts were made glad through his timely a.s.sistance, while dest.i.tute strangers, whom chance or misfortune had thrown upon these, then, wild inhospitable sh.o.r.es, were not permitted to suffer while he had power to relieve. Yet he was persecuted by men claiming the knowledge of a Christian experience, defamed by designing politicians, knowingly misrepresented in Was.h.i.+ngton as a British intriguer, until he was unjustly deprived of the greater part of his land claim. Thus, after a sorrowful experience of man's ingrat.i.tude to man, he died an honored American citizen."

J. Quinn Thornton was one of the early Oregon pioneers. He came to Oregon with the immigration of 1846. At the meeting of the Oregon Pioneer a.s.sociation in 1875, he furnished to that a.s.sociation a history of the Provisional Government of Oregon. In this history, speaking of Dr. John McLoughlin, Thornton said:[75] "The late Dr. John McLoughlin resided at Fort Vancouver, and he was Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company west of the Rocky Mountains. He was a great man, upon whom G.o.d had stamped a grandeur of character which few men possess and a n.o.bility which the patent of no earthly sovereign can confer.... As a Christian, he was a devout Roman Catholic, yet, nevertheless, catholic in the largest sense of that word.... He was a man of great goodness of heart, too wise to do a really foolish thing, too n.o.ble and magnanimous to condescend to meanness, and too forgiving to cherish resentments. The writer, during the last years of Dr. McLoughlin's life, being his professional adviser, had an opportunity such as no other man had, save his confessor, of learning and studying him; and as a result of the impressions, which daily intercourse of either a social or business nature made upon the writer's mind, he hesitates not to say, that old, white-headed John McLoughlin, when compared with other persons who have figured in the early history of Oregon, is in sublimity of character, a Mount Hood towering above the foot hills into the regions of eternal snow and suns.h.i.+ne."

Col. J. K. Kelly was Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Regiment of Oregon Mounted Volunteers in the Yakima Indian War of 1855. He was afterwards a United States Senator from Oregon, and Chief Justice of the Oregon State Supreme Court. In his address to the Oregon Pioneer a.s.sociation in 1882, speaking of Dr. McLoughlin, Col. Kelly said:[76] "Just and generous as that law [Oregon Donation Land Law] was to the people of Oregon, yet there was one blot upon it. I refer to the provisions contained in the 11th section of the act by which the donation claim of Dr. John McLoughlin, known as the Oregon City claim, was taken from him and placed at the disposal of the Legislative a.s.sembly to be sold and the proceeds applied to the endowment of an university. It was an act of injustice to one of the best friends and greatest benefactors which the early immigrants ever had. I do not propose to speak of the many estimable and n.o.ble qualities of Dr. McLoughlin here. They have been dwelt upon by others who have heretofore addressed the Pioneer a.s.sociation, and especially by Mr. Rees in 1879. I concur in everything he said in praise of Dr. McLoughlin.

"It was my good fortune to know him well during the last six years of his life, years which were embittered by what he considered an act of ingrat.i.tude after he had done so many acts of personal kindness to the early immigrants in their time of need. That Dr. McLoughlin was unjustly treated in this matter, few, if any, will deny. And I am very sure that a large majority of the people, in Oregon, at that time, condemned the act which took away his property, and tended to becloud his fame. And yet no act was ever done by the Territorial Government to a.s.sert its right to the Oregon City claim during the life of Dr. McLoughlin; and in 1862, five years after his death, the State of Oregon confirmed the t.i.tle to his devisees upon the payment of the merely nominal consideration of $1,000 into the university fund. And so five years after he was laid in his grave an act of tardy justice was done at last to the memory of the grand old pioneer." It was largely through Col.

Kelly's influence and actions that this act was pa.s.sed in favor of Dr.

McLoughlin's devisees.

Horace S. Lyman was a son of Rev. Horace Lyman, a Congregational minister who came to Oregon in 1849, and who founded the First Congregational Church of Portland in June, 1851. Horace S. Lyman grew up in Oregon and from his own knowledge, from personal a.s.sociation with pioneer missionaries and others, and from reading, he became well acquainted with the history of Oregon. He was the author of a "History of Oregon" published in 1903. His a.s.sociate editors were Mr. Harvey W.

Scott, Judge Charles B. Bellinger, and Prof. Frederic G. Young. In the fourth volume of this history, page 381, it is said: "Whether the justice of history, and the recognition of after times, when personal interests and partizan spites are dissipated, and a character like that of McLoughlin stands forth as one of the best ever produced under the British flag, and one of the best ever given to America, should be regarded as compensation for the injustice and sufferings of a life darkened in old age, may not be determined. Yet the historian must ever a.s.sert that a character worthy of perpetual commemoration and admiration, illuminating, by humanity and Christian doctrine, the dark chapters of wilderness life from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and setting a star of hope over the barracks of a mercenary trading company, is worth all personal sacrifice. It is of such acts that great history consists. Even to the Doctor himself, going down in old age and poverty, and doubting whether his family would have a support, and believing that he had better have been shot as a beast than to have so suffered, we may hope that it was but 'a light affliction, compared with the perpetual consciousness of a life of peace and good will sustained in a period menaced by war."

As I have said, my uncle, Daniel S. Holman, was one of the immigrants of 1843. He was then about twenty-one years old. He will be eighty-five years old the fifteenth of November, 1907. He lives at McMinnville, Oregon, strong in mind and body. When I was honored by being selected to deliver the address, I wrote him asking for his opinion of Dr. John McLoughlin, for I knew his feelings. He wrote me August 7, 1905. In this letter he said: "I received yours requesting me to tell you of some of the kind acts of Doctor McLoughlin. It would take more time than I have to speak of all the very good things that he did, but I can say that he did all that was in his power to do to help the starving, wornout and poverty stricken [immigrants] that came to Oregon. For the first three or four years after I came if he had not helped us we could not have lived in Oregon. At the time we came he sent his boats to The Dalles, free of cost, to help all that could not help themselves to go down the river. He also sent food and clothing to the dest.i.tute and gave it to them. He also furnished seed grain to everyone who wanted, and waited for his pay until they raised wheat to pay. The fact is there never was a better man than he was. He did more than any other man did to settle Oregon. History says Doctor Whitman was the man who saved Oregon to the United States, but that is not true. It was Dr. John McLoughlin of the Hudson's Bay Company. So says every man that is a man, that came to Oregon up to 1849. He furnished the entire immigration with food and clothing for the first year after we came. The people did not have money to live on and so he fed and clothed us all. Some never paid him but some did pay the good old man."

And he added a postscript to say that his wife thought he had not said enough about Dr. John McLoughlin. She has been my uncle's loving and faithful help-mate for more than fifty-nine years. She is a pioneer of 1846. She, too, is still strong, mentally and physically. My uncle said in the postscript: "I can say that I am sure no man could have done better than he did to us all. In the fall of 1845 I went out to meet the immigrants and was gone from home six or eight weeks without a change of clothing. I got back to Vancouver where the Doctor then lived. I was as ragged as I could be. I went to his office and told him I wanted some clothing, but had no money. He gave me an order to his son to let me have whatever I wanted in the store. He treated others as he did me. In 1848 he let every one who wanted to go to the mines have all they needed, on time, to go to California. Some never paid him. Have you anyone in Portland that would help any and all such men off to the mines on such chances of getting their pay? I don't think there is such a man in Oregon, or any other place. You can't say too much in his praise."

Joseph Watt, a pioneer of 1844, from whose "Recollections of Dr. John McLoughlin" I have already quoted, also said, in said _Recollections_:[77] "The next I saw of the Doctor was in Oregon City, he having stayed at Fort Vancouver until all the immigrants for that year [1844] had arrived. He was building a large flouring mill, at that time nearing its completion. He already had a saw mill in full blast, also was building a dwelling house, preparing to move to that place, which he did in the following spring. From that time to his death he was a prominent figure in Oregon City. Nothing pleased him better than to talk with the settlers, learn how they were getting along, their prospects, of their ability to live, and to help others. He was anxious that every one should be well and kept busy. He could not endure idleness or waste. Over-reaching, or, what we Americans call 'sharp practice,' he had no patience with whatever. As far as he was concerned all transactions were fair, straight-forward and honorable. Those who knew him best never thought of disputing his word or his declared intentions, although there were some high in authority who did this in after years, apparently for selfish motives; and through their representations, caused the U. S. Government to do an act of great injustice. But I am proud to be able to say that all, or nearly all of the first settlers, did not endorse the action, and never rested until the wrong was adjusted as nearly as it was possible to do so.... It appeared by common consent that he was practically the first governor of the great North Pacific Coast. No man ever fulfilled that trust better than Dr. John McLoughlin. He was always anxious over the Indian problem.

No one understood the Indian character better than he did. All the Indians knew him as the great 'White Chief,' and believed whatever he said could be depended on; that he was not their enemy, but was strictly just with them in every thing;--could punish or reward, as he thought best, and no trouble grew out of it. But with the settlers the case was different.... Dr. McLoughlin! Kind, large-hearted Dr. John McLoughlin!

One of nature's n.o.blemen, who never feared to do his duty to his G.o.d, his country, his fellow-men and himself, even in the wilderness. The pioneers of this great North-West feel that they owe Dr. John McLoughlin a debt of grat.i.tude above all price, and that they and their posterity will cherish his memory by a suitable monument placed on the highest pinnacle of fame within the State of Oregon."

Archbishop F. N. Blanchet came to Oregon in 1838 as Vicar-General of the Roman Catholic Church in Oregon. He was consecrated as Archbishop in Quebec in 1845. In his "Historical Sketches of the Catholic Church in Oregon" (published in 1878), from which I have already quoted, he also said of Dr. McLoughlin (pp. 8 and 9): "He was one of 'nature's n.o.blemen'

in every sphere of life. Of commanding presence, strict integrity, sound judgment, and correct principles of justice, no man was better qualified for the position he occupied as the father and friend of both the Indians and the whites who then jointly occupied the Pacific northwest.

Dr. McLoughlin was the arbiter to whom both whites and Indians looked for the settlement of their differences, and the friend from whom they sought relief in all their difficulties.... Under the impartial supervision of this good and great man the business of the Hudson Bay Company prospered amazingly; he perpetuated peace between the Indians and the employes of the Company.... He also extended a.s.sistance to every immigrant whose necessities required it, and his good deeds have enshrined his name amidst the most honored of the pioneers of the Pacific Coast." And on page 71 Archbishop Blanchet said: "Dr. John McLoughlin was the father of the orphans and servants of the H. B. Co.; the father of the French-Canadian colonies of Cowlitz and Wallamette Valley; of all the American immigrants; and a great benefactor of the Catholic Church."

It will be remembered that Rev. Daniel Lee was a Methodist missionary, who came to Oregon in 1834. He worked faithfully and earnestly for about ten years when he returned to the Eastern States. He continued in the ministry and died about 1895. His son, Rev. William H. Lee, is the Pastor of the People's Mission Church at Colorado Springs. He was in Portland in 1905. In answer to the inquiry of Mr. G. H. Himes, a.s.sistant Secretary of the Oregon Historical Society, Rev. William H. Lee wrote the following letter at his home, July 31, 1905, to Mr. Himes: "As the son of a pioneer Oregon Missionary I wish to add my tribute of respect to the memory of Dr. John McLoughlin. For 10 years my father Rev. Daniel Lee labored in missionary work in Oregon and during all these years John McLoughlin was his friend. When my Father and Mother were united in marriage it was within the hospitable walls of Ft. Vancouver and we treasure a marriage certificate signed by John McLoughlin as one of the witnesses. Many times have I heard my Father and Mother speak of the kindness of Dr. John McLoughlin. And one of the most pleasant memories of my recent visit to Portland was the privilege I had of stopping in Oregon City and placing some flowers on the grave of my Father and Mother's friend."

The well known writer, S. A. Clarke, who was an Oregon immigrant of 1850, published a two volume work in 1903, ent.i.tled: "Pioneer Days of Oregon History." In this work (vol. 1, pp. 214, 215) Mr. Clarke says of Dr. McLoughlin: "It was because of his loyalty to humanity and his kindness to Americans that he lost his high official station and was left almost heartbroken in his old age. We can afford to hold up in contrast those who profited by his bounty and left him to pay the bill; also those--be they Missionaries or who--that tried to rob him of his land claim, with the n.o.bler minded man--John McLoughlin--who did so much and lost so much for humanity, and never expressed regret."

Mr. Clarke in this work (vol. 1, p. 226) narrates the following incident, which was told to him by Dr. William C. McKay, who was a grandson of Mrs. Dr. John McLoughlin. It will be remembered that her first husband was Alexander McKay, who was killed in the capture of the Tonquin in 1811. "In 1843 William Beagle and family reached Vancouver dest.i.tute, and he had the typhus fever. McLoughlin heard of it and told Dr. Barclay there was a sick and dest.i.tute family at the landing; to fix up a house for them, make them comfortable and attend to the sick.

"Dr. W. C. McKay had just returned from the States where he pursued medical studies. So the doctor invited him to a.s.sist in taking care of his patients. There was the mother and several children, who had all they needed for two months, until Beagle got better, when he went to Governor McLoughlin and asked what his bill was. 'Tut, tut, tut! bill, bill, bill! Take care of yourself, sir! That is the bill!" Beagle pleaded that even the doctor couldn't afford to take care of his family and treat them so long without pay. 'Tut, tut, tut,' was the reply. 'You do the best you can for some other man who is in trouble, and that will pay me.'

"He sent them up the Willamette, free of charge, sold them supplies that were necessary until Beagle could earn money, and was finally paid for them in full. This is but one instance in the many where the kindness and generosity of Dr. McLoughlin was manifested toward Americans who reached Vancouver sick and impoverished and received his generous and kindly care."

FOOTNOTES:

[1] See Doc.u.ment A at end of volume.