Doctor Elijah White and the Immigration of 1842.
Dr. Elijah White first came to Oregon in 1837, as a Methodist missionary and physician to the Mission. He quarreled with Rev. Jason Lee and returned to the eastern states in 1841. Early in 1842, while in New York, he was appointed by the United States Government as "Sub-Indian Agent for Oregon," whatever that might mean. What right the government had to appoint such an officer in Oregon, where jointoccupancy was in force, has never been fully explained. What his duties were seem never to have been defined. He, therefore, conducted himself as he pleased. He was instructed to go to Oregon without delay, which he did. He proceeded to western Missouri and succeeded in getting together about 112 persons, of whom about 50 were men over 18 years of age. May 16, 1842, the party left Elm Grove, Missouri, for Oregon. This is what is known as the "Oregon Immigration of 1842." At Fort Laramie, Francois Xavier Matthieu and a few other French-Canadian trappers joined the immigration. Leaving their wagons at Fort Hall, they came to Oregon on horses and arrived at Oregon City early in October, 1842.
What Dr. White lacked in real authority he supplied by his imagination and ingenuity. His attempts to act as a quasiruler met with opposition and in some cases with resentment. He was in favor of a provisional government, provided he was chosen governor, and be, at the same time, "Sub-Indian Agent." He wished to be captain and also beat the drum. It was a case of ambition thwarted. He may have been wanting in some qualities, but he never was lacking in "nerve." In 1842, A. E. Wilson, an American, came to Oregon as supercargo of the brig Chenamus, commanded by Capt John H. Couch. Wilson remained in Oregon City in charge of a store, stocked with goods brought on the Chenamus, and owned by Cushing & Company of Newburyport, Massachusetts.
Opposition to a Provisional Government.
In the winter of 1842-43, the advocates of a provisional government continued to agitate it. There was a discussion of
