Emigrants to Oregon in 1840

compiled by Stephenie Flora
oregonpioneers.com

copyright 2017

    



This list is compiled from a variety of sources.  Any additions or corrections would be most appreciated.  If you wish to be listed as a family researcher for a particular family please contact me using the comments option at the bottom of the page.

Family Histories of the French Canadians can be found at Ancestors of the French Canadians to Oregon prior to 1842 by Raymonde Gauthier

ILLINOIS PARTY:
Forming in 1839 was a small company from Quincy, Illinois. Included in the party were Alvin T. Smith, a carpenter; Rev. Harvey Clarke and Rev. Philo B. Littlejohn. As Rev. Clarke could not overtake the brigade of the American Fur Company that started in 1839, he traveled to Quincy late that winter and induced Mr. Smith to join the company with the intent of starting an independent mission among the Oregon Indians. The members of the party were all newly married and began their journey with two wagons. At Independence, Henry Black, a frontiersman, joined them as a driver. Members of the Illinois Party are noted in the list below with an *IP:

PEORIA PARTY:
Another party that had formed in 1839 was the Peoria Party. Disagreements and hardships took their toll and many members of the party turned back. The ones that continued on formed into two separate parties. Some proceeded under the leadership of Farnham while the remaining adventurers followed Robert Shortess. Those who followed Thomas J. Farnham, for the most part, reached the Oregon Country in 1839. Those following Robert Shortess wintered over and arrived in 1840. Those members who arrived in 1840 are indicated below with a *PP:

 

GREAT REINFORCEMENT:
 A large portion of the Great Reinforcement of 1840 became residents of what is now known as Salem, and the vicinity thereof sometime during the years 1840-41. At the time the entire Willamette settlement consisted of not more than about forty men, chiefly with Indian wives and half-breed children, from what is now Butteville, on the north, to the settlement of present day Salem, on the south; all except four or five settlers at or near the present town of Wheatland, and a few in Chehalem valley, were located on the east side of the river, within a small portion of the present county of Marion.

By late summer, the population in the Valley includes: "American settlers, twenty-five of them with Indian wives, 36; American women, 33; children 32; lay members, Protestant Missions, 13; Methodist Ministers, 13; Congregational, 6; American Physicians, 3; English Physicians, 1; Jesuit Priests, including DeSmet, 3; Canadian French, 60. Total Americans 137; total Canadians, including Priests, 63. Total population, not including Hudson's Bay Company operatives within what now is a portion of Montana, and all of Idaho, Washington and Oregon, 200."

Emigrants to Oregon in 1840

 

ABERNETHY, Anna: d/o George and Ann (Pope) Abernethy

ABERNETHY, George (1807-1877): m. 1830 Ann Pope, came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party of Methodist missionaries; elected governor of the provisional government in 1845 and 1847; merchant at Oregon City; laid out town of Butteville.

ABERNETHY, William: s/o George and Ann (Pope) Abernethy

*2: ADAMS, Thomas: a Chinook who went to the east with Lee returned to Oregon on the Lausanne. BROOKS, the other Chinook who went with Lee had died in the States.

*2: ALTGEIER, Niclaus or Nicholas: A valley resident by late summer 1840. He left for California with the US Exploring Expedition in 1841.

ARMSTRONG, Pleasant: m'd 1845 SMITH, Jane; respected citizen of Yamhill County when he was killed by Indians in 1853 during the Rogue River Indian War; trapper who married the sister of Francis Fletcher's wife

BABCOCK, Ira L. Dr. (c1808-1888): and wife and one child; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party; was a physician, judge, and executive in Oregon; following Ewing Young's death intestate, he was made Supreme Judge with probate powers, a position he held for two years; in 1843 he spent a year with his family in the Sandwich Islands; upon his return he was again elected Supreme Judge, holding that office till he left Oregon in November 1844.

BABCOCK, Ira L. Mrs.; arrived on Lausanne with husband and child

BABCOCK, Son: s/o Dr. Ira Babcock; arrived on Lausanne with parents

BIDDLE, Harriet B. (1817- ): m'd 1835 CAMPBELL, Hamilton

BLACK, Henry (1819- ): m1. 1841 [], Lizette; m2. 1848 [], Mary A.E.; former trapper; he drove a wagon for the ailing A.T. Smith from Green River to Ft. Hall; left the Willamette Valley with the US Exploring Expedition in September of 1841 and returned the next year with a herd of cattle.

BREWER, Henry B.: came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne with his wife via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party.

BREWER, Henry B. Mrs.: arrived with husband on ship Lausanne with Jason Lee missionary party

CAMPBELL, Hamilton (1812- ): m'd 1835 BIDDLE, Harriet; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne with his wife and one child via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party

CAMPBELL, Mary C. (1839- ): d/o Hamilton and Harriet (Biddle) Campgell; arrived with parents on ship Lausanne

CLARK, Chloe A.: m'd 1840 WILLSON, William Holden Dr.; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party; assigned as a teacher at Puget Sound in 1840; teacher at Oregon Institute in 1844 in Salem

CLARKE, Emeline ( -1866): m'd 1837 CLARKE, Harvey Rev.; settled on Tualatin Plains; later moved to Forest Grove

CLARKE, Harvey (1807- ): m'd 1837 [ ], Emeline; independent missionary; he and his wife traveled with the missionary party; stayed at Kamiah with the Asa B. Smiths through September 1841; settled on Tualatin Plains; later moved to Forest Grove

CONE, William W.; arrived in May 1840 reinforcements to Jason Lee Mission

*PP: COOK, Amos (1816-1895): m'd 1853 SCOTT, Mary Frances; member of Peoria Party that started in 1839; after split of party at Bent's Fort he accompanied Shortess party; wintered at Fort Davy Crockett on the Green River; continued journey in spring with Robert Newell as guide to Ft. Hall; after three weeks joined a company taking furs to Ft. Walla Walla; arrived at Ft. Vancouver May 1840; settled in Yamhill Co; buried in Forest Grove Cemetery

COUCH, Capt. John H. (1811-1870): m'd FLANDERS, Caroline E.; a representative of the Cushing family in Massachusetts

CRAIG FAMILY RESEARCHER
CRAIG, William: m'd Nez Perce, Isabel; an experienced mountain man who left the service of the American Fur Company and settled on the Tualatin Plains in 1839 or 1840; was a companion of Larison; in August of 1840 settled near Spalding at Lapwaii; took the Spalding family in after the Whitman Massacre

CREE, Marguerite: m1. CHROCHIERE, []; m2. DUBOIS, Andre; came west with second husband

CROCHIERE, Joseph ( - 1849): came west with mother and stepfather; died in California gold fields 12 Sep 1849.

DAVID, Almira: m'd 1839 RAYMOND, William Wakeman; came to Oregon of the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with reinforcements for the Willamette Mission; was a teacher

*2: DAVIS, George: was described as a lone drifter in seach ofland; joined the missionary party at Ft. Laramie and went with them to Oregon.

DOUGHTY, William (1812-1872): m'd 1842 SHOSHONE, Mary; free trapper who accompanied Kilbourn (of the Peoria Party) to Oregon in the summer of 1840; by autumn, he and his Indian wife had settled in the ex-trapper community near Willamette Falls.

DUBOIS, Andre (1803- ): m1. 1840 CREE, Marguerite; first wife died on claim Sep 1846; m2. JEFFRIES, Josette

FISHER, Charles J. Capt.: died 05 Dec 1896 Bound Brook, NJ

FLETCHER FAMILY RESEARCHER
*PP:
FLETCHER, Francis (1814-1871): m'd 1843 SMITH, Elizabeth; came from Canada to US in 1832; member of Peoria Party; after the split of the party at Bent's Fort; accompanied Shortess to Fort St. Vrain; fall of 1839 went to Fort Davy Crockett on the Green River where he wintered with Cook, Holman and Kilbourne; continued journey in spring with Robert Newell as guide to Ft. Hall; laid in supplies and traveled with a company taking furs to Ft. Walla Walla; arrived at Fort Vancouver May 1840; member of first board of trustees of Willamette University after its charter was granted in 1853; settled in Yamhill Co; buried at Dayton, OR

FOSTER, James Rev.:

FOSTER, James Mrs.:

FROST, Joseph H. Rev. (1805-1864): arrived with his wife aboard the Lausanne; established a mission on the Clatsop plains a short distance south of the mouth of the Columbia; returned east with his friend, Daniel Lee in 1843 after suffering from ill health

FROST, Joseph H. Mrs.:

FROST, Son: s/o Rev. Joseph Frost; arrived with parents on ship Lausanne

HINES, Gustavus Rev. (1809-1875): came to Oregon with his wife and his wife's sister, Mrs. C.N. Perry, on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party; elected secretary at 1841 settlers meeting to draft constitution and code of law; was visiting at Champoeg in 1843; raised the daughter of Jason Lee; returned east; led a party out in 1853; buried at Lee Mission Cemetery in Salem, OR

HINES, Mrs. Gustavus: arrived with husband sister on the ship Lausanne

*PP: HOLMAN, Joseph (1815-1880): m1. 1841 PHELPS, Almira; m2. 1875 BUSS, Libbie; member of Peoria Party that started out in 1839; after split of party at Bent's Fort he accompanied Shortess party; wintered at Fort Davy Crockett on Green River; accompanied party guided by Robert Newell to Ft. Hall; arrived at Fort Vancouver May 1840; merchant at Salem; director of Willamette Woolen Mfg Co; one of first breeders of purebred sheep; promoted the raising of flax seed for linseed oil; built Chemeketa Hotel and the Holman block in Salem; buried in Salem Pioneer Cemetery, Salem, Marion Co, OR

JEANGRAS, Jean (1802-1856): m'd 1844 [ ], Olive; left the 1840 Rendezvous bound for Oregon with the Robert Newell party; settled Marion Co

JUDSON FAMILY RESEARCHER
JUDSON, Adelia (1811-1890): m1. 1839 OLLEY, James; m2. LESLIE, David Rev.; d
/o Nathaniel and Rhoda (Hall) Judson; came around Cape Horn in 1840 with missionary party as missionary and teacher; d. of paralytic stroke; buried at Salem Pioneer Cemetery, Salem, Marion Co, OR  

JUDSON, Helen Cooper (1834-1903 ): m'd MCCLANE, John B.; d/o Lewis and Elmira (Roberts) Judson.  After her arrival in Oregon she settled with her parents at the mission below Salem.  She later moved to Salem where she spent the remainder of her life.  In 1843 she married John Burch McClane.  About five years before her death she was thrown from a buggy and was paralyzed on the left side from that time on.  In 1902 she took another fall that further weakened her condition.  Helen was the last survivor of the missionary ship.  She died Oct 1, 1903 and is buried at Salem Pioneer Cemetery, Salem, Marion Co, OR  along with her husband and other family members

JUDSON, Leonard Bowdish (1832-1898): m1. 1855 Matheny, Margaret; m2. DURFIELD, Marrietta; s/o Lewis and Elmira (Roberts) Judson; buried at Salem Pioneer Cemetery, Salem, Marion Co, OR  

JUDSON, Lewis Hubbell Rev. (1809-1880): m1. 1831 ROBERTS, Elmira; m2. 1846 HAWKINS, Nancy; s/o Nathaniel and Rhoda (Hall) Judson; member of the Methodist "Great Reinforcement" that came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn; on board of trustees and was chairman of committee to draw up by-laws for Oregon Institute; after Mission was reorganized in 1844 he bought the mills near the Mission for $6000; became surveyor for Marion County; buried in Salem Pioneer Cemetery, Salem, Marion Co, OR

*PP: KILBOURNE, Ralph L. (1810-1879): m'd POPE, Maria; member of the Peoria Party; after the split of the party at Bent's Fort he accompanied the Shortess party; wintered at Fort Davy Crockett on the Green River with Cook, Holman and Fletcher; traveled to Ft. Hall with Robert Newell as guide; accompanied a company taking furs to Ft. Walla Walla; arrived at Ft. Vancouver May 1840; helped build the "Star of Oregon" in 1841; sailed with it to San Francisco in 1842; settled in NAPA Co, CA; died at Rutherford

LANKTON, Orpha: m. MCKINNEY, [ ]; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party

LARISON, John (1804- ): m. 1843 Nez Perce, Eleanor; free trapper who left the service of the American Fur Company and settled on the Tualatin Plains; usually a companion of William Craig; arrived with his wife and the Craigs in the Clearwater area in August of 1840;settled near Lapwaii, much to the annoyance of Rev. Spalding who disliked trappers

LEBRETON, George W.: arrived on the brig Maryland, under the command of Capt. John H. Couch; described as intelligent, energetic New Englander, small man

LEWIS, Charles: m'd Mary Ann; settled in Washington County

LEWIS, Mary Ann: m'd LEWIS, Charles; settled in Washington County

LITTLEJOHN, Philo B.: m'd SADLER, Adeline; independent missionary arrived with his wife; settled on Tualatin Plains

*2: MCCERY: listed as a Willamette farmer in 1840; possibly ex-trapper Michel Cere (roster, Gray)

MEEK, Courtney Walker (1839- ): s/o Virginia and Joseph Meek

MEEK, Helen Mar (c1838-1847): d/o Joseph L. Meek; was left with the Whitmans in Oct 1840 by her father when her mother abandoned them; was still living there when the Whitman Massacre took place; died from illness shortly after Hannah Louise Sager; her father never forgave the Cayuse for her death; father participated in the hanging of the participants after they turned themselves in.

MEEK, Joseph L. (1810-1877): m1. [ ]; m2. 1841 NEZ PERCE, Virginia; 1829 joined Sublette; 1830 was trapping with Jim Bridger and Jedediah Smith; Aug 1840 started from Fort Hall with Robert Newell, Caleb Wilkins and Francis Ermatinger enroute to Whitman's Mission at Walla Walla; settled on Tualatin Plains in 1840; described as tall, imposing, bronzed, commanding in voice.

MEEK, Virginia: m'd 1838 MEEK, Joseph as his second wife, daughter of Nez Perce Kowesote or Thunder Eyes whom Spaulding called James; Her sister was Kitty M. Newell; buried in Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Cemetery, Hillsboro

MOISAN, Thomas (1809-1888): m'd 1842 LONGTAIN, Harriet; born and raised in St. Jacque parish near Montreal, CN; left Canada in 1838 and wintered in New Orleans; spring of 1839 joined American Fur Company and crossed Rocky Mountains; spring of 1840 left the Company and started for the Willamette Valley; took up land claim; man of good business ability, honest, kind; instrumental in establishing church at Brooks; was an invalid for about 20 years prior to his death

*PP: MOORE, Robert (1781-1857): m1. 1805 CLARK, Margaret; m2. 1851 APPERSON, Jane Gilbert (Tubbs); member of the Peoria Party that started out in 1839; after split of party at Bent's Fort he accompanied the Shortess party for a time; arrived in OR in 1840; by 1841 was living near the mouth of the Columbia; took up DLC in Washington Co but had to relinquish half of it when his wife died before she could emigrate to OR; father of 10 children but only three of these eventually emigrated to OR; was involved in establishment of Provisional Government; served in legislature; unlike many settlers who simply took the land they wanted, he purchased his land from an Indian Chief; his land was on a hillside directly opposite Oregon City and was known as "Robin's Nest" (later became Linn City)

NEWELL, Robert (1807-1869): m1. NEZ PERCE,  Kitty; m2. 1846 NEWMAN, Rebecca; m3. 1869 WARD, Mrs.; referred to often as "Doc" Newell; became a trapper at the age of 21 under Sublette in company with Jose Meek, George Ebberts and others; 1840 he served as pilot for a group of missionaries from Green river to Fort Hall where he was paid with a harness and two wagon ( he sold one wagon and one he hired Joe Meek to drive to Walla Walla); accompanied by Caleb Wilkins the small caravan traveled to the Columbia where Newell left his wagon while he continued on to the Willamette Valley (returning the next year he brought the wagon down the Columbia by boat);  Newell settled first in the Tualatin Plains near present day Hillsboro, later moving to Oregon City; 1844 he acquired land at Champoeg where he resided for nearly 20 years;  Newell played a prominent roll in the forming of the provisional government; he was well read and helped organize the earliest literacy and debating society; was a director of the Oregon Printing Association which published the first newspaper, the Spectator; 1855; operated a river boat operation between Oregon City and Willamette falls with two keel boats he had obtained; served as Captain of  a company of 35 men during the Yakima War;  1866 he had sold his land at Champoeg and moved to ID to live near his old friends, the Nez Perces, settling near present day Lewiston; died of heart disease a short time after moving.

OLLEY, James ( - 1842): m'd 1839 JUDSON, Adelia; was a carpenter and joiner from New York; came to Oregon accompanied by his wife on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party

PARRISH, Josiah Lamberson Rev. (1806-1895): m. 1833 WINN, Elizabeth; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party; was ordained minister but was also skilled as a blacksmith and harness, wagon and tool maker; 1843 established mission at mouth of Columbia River; 1849 appointed Indian Agent of area from CA to Coos Bay; original trustee of the Oregon Institute [now known as Willamette University]; 1843 helped draw up plans for a provisional government; 1855 was missionary at Gronde Ronde; rode circuit for several years but retired due to ill health

PARRISH, Lamberson W. ( -1840): s/o Josiah L. and Elizabeth [Winn] Parrish;

PARRISH, Norman O. (1836-1900): s/o Josiah L. and Elizabeth [Winn] Parrish; well known express man in Salem; suffered with epilepsy most of his life; buried in Lee Mission Cemetery, Salem, OR

PERRY, C.N. Mrs.: reportedly arrived with Mr. and Mrs. Gustavus Hines on the Lausanne in 1840; was sister of Mrs. Hines

PHELPS, Almira: m'd HOLMAN, Joseph; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the reinforcements for the Willamette Mission

POPE: Ann (1811-1884): m'd 21 Jan 1830 ABERNETHY, George; born 10 Sep 1811 England and died 1884 NY

RAYMOND, Abigail: m. 1840 SMITH, Alvin Thompson and began her journey to Oregon on 29 Apr 1840 from Independence, MO. She arrived with her husband and the other 2 missionary couples at Waiilatpu in August; in September 1841, the independent missionaries relocated in the Willamette Valley.]

RAYMOND, William Wakeman (1815- ): m.11839 DAVID, Almira; m2. c1864 PHILLIPS, Elmira; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the reinforcements for the Willamette Mission; settled in Clatsop Co; by 1859 was a Sub Indian Agent and had sold claim; 1864 he and his first wife were divorced; father of six children by his first wife

*2: RICHARDS, G.P. Rev. and Mrs.: arrived on ship Lausanne with 3 children (Bancroft roster) ]

RICHMOND, John H. Dr.: came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party; returned to the States with his family in 1842 on the brig Chenamus with Captain Couch.

ROBERTS, Elmira (1811-1844): m'd 1831 JUDSON, Lewis Hubbell Rev.; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with her husband and children as part of the Willamette Mission reinforcements; buried Salem Pioneer Cemetery, Salem, Marion Co, OR  

SADLER, Adeline: m. LITTLEJOHN, Philo B. Rev.: arrived with husband; settled on the Tualatin Plains

SENECAL: Gideon (1816-1896): m1. 1844 [ ], Mary Ann; m2. DUCHARME, Lucille; first wife died in 1849

*PP: SHORTESS, Robert (1797-1878): m'd [ ], Ann; member of Peoria Party that started out in 1839; after party split at Bent's Fort he led a party to Fort St. Vrain; fall of 1839 went on to Ft. Davy Crockett on Green River; joined Robert Newell and Joseph Meek who were on way to Ft. Hall; at Ft. Hall joined a French Canadian named Silvertry who was on way to Ft. Walla Walla; they encountered extreme hardship in blizzard conditions but managed to reach their destination; Shortess then proceeded to Whitman Mission and on to the Willamette Valley; arrived at Hubbard's place April 1840; he returned east at some point and emigrated again in 1842; spent later years at Astoria; well educated, farmer, school teacher; had an abiding hatred for HBC; involved in establishment of Provisional Government; was Sub Indian Agent; injured when the "Gazelle", a side-wheel boat docked at Oregon City blew up killing 22 and injuring others; buried in Astoria Cemetery

SMITH, Alvin Thompson (1802- ): m'd 1840 RAYMOND, Abigail; independent missionary who traveled with missionary party; joined Spalding at his Nez Perce station on Clearwater River; 1851 probate judge of Washington Co, OR; 1853 postmaster of Tualatin, OR. *1: MSS#8, 18pp diary typescript in collection at OHS.

WALKER, Joel Pickens (1797- ): brother of reknowned trapper, Joseph Walker; arrived in Willamette Valley with family 13 Sep 1840; went to California with the US Exploring Expedition in Sep 1841; worked as a manager and drover at Sutter's Mill; returned with cattle, and horses and accompanied by Jacob P. Lesse and some former Oregonians while his family returned by ship in 1843; back to California by 1848 where he became politically prominent and was a member of the California Constitutional Convention of 1849; settled in Napa Valley

WALKER, Isabella: d/o Joel P. and Mary Young Walker

WALKER, John (1834- ): s/o Joel P. and Mary Young Walker

WALKER, Joseph (1828- ): s/o Joel P. and Mary Young Walker

WALKER, Louisa (1841- ): d/o Joel P. and Mary Young Walker; was born Jan 1841 near Salem.

WALKER, Newton: s/o Joel P. and Mary Young Walker

WALLER, Rev. Alvan F. (1808-1872): m. 1833 WHITE, Elepha; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party; built the first Protestant church west of the Rocky Mountains at Oregon City; built the first church in Salem; one of the founders of the newspaper the "Pacific Christian Advocate".

WARE, Maria: m'd LEE, Daniel

WHITE, Elepha (1811- ): m'd 1833 WALLER, Rev. Alvan F.; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party

WILKINS, Caleb: guided the missionary/settler party from Green River to Ft. Hall. He bought Joel Walker's wagon when the party split between Ft. Hall and Boise; arrived with his wife, a Nez Perce of the Lapwai region, at Waiilatpu in August and settled in the Willamette Valley in September.

*2: WILKINSON, George: arrived this year with his Indian wife

WINN, Elizabeth (1811-1869): m'd 1833 PARRISH, Rev. Josiah L.; came to Oregon on the ship Lausanne via Cape Horn with the Jason Lee party; founded an orphan's home in what is now one of the buildings located on the grounds of the Oregon State Hospital in Salem and donated 4.77 acres from her half of their original donation land claim to make up the original part of Lee Mission Cemetery.

YOUNG, Martha: sister of Mary Young; accompanied Joel P. Walker family to OR in 1840

YOUNG, Mary: m. 1823 WALKER, Joel P.; came to Oregon with their four children and her unmarried sister, Martha Young; by the end of September, the Walkers had sown a crop with the aid of Ewing Young and Dr. McLoughlin; Ewing Young hired Joel and his son for occasional work and Martha Young (Mary Young Walker's sister) as a seamstress and laundress.

BIBLIOGRAPHY


My name is Stephenie Flora. Thanks for stopping by
. Return to [ Home Page ] All [ Comments and Inquiries ] are welcome.