Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 21.djvu/87

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METHODIST EDUCATIONAL EFFORT IN OREGON TO 1860 77

There were accommodations for 185 boarders ; fees, $4.50 a term for infants, $6.50 for elementary, and $9.50 for higher students. "Extra charges were made for piano, singing, draw- ing, painting, which same could be had upon application, all letters to be addressed, postage paid, to the Lady Superior."

The Baptists, Congregationalists, Christians, Presbyterians, United Brethren and Methodists all had similar schools in Oregon before 1860.

V. PERIOD OF ORGANIZED INSTITUTIONS, 1854-60 There were five Methodist schools in Oregon when the Conference met in 1860, Willamette University, valued at $25,000.00; Portland Academy and Female Seminary, valued at $8,500.00; Oregon City Seminary, $5,000.00; Santiam Academy, $6,500.00; Umpqua Academy, $6,000.00. There was no detailed account of attendance till 1864, when Willamette had 264; 163 male, 101 female; Expenses, $4,387.40; Receipts, $4,017.98. Portland Academy, 241 ; 170 in academic depart- ment; 71 primary. Santiam, 105; 65 males, 40 females. Ex- pense $1,218.00, Receipts $1,218.00. Umpqua, 112. Building in good repair and clear of debt. 17

There were other Methodist institutions which had come into existence and died before 1860. I shall give the history of these schools in chronological order. Doubtless there, were some schools of which we have no record at all. Only those which were chartered before 1860 will be dealt with in these pages.

WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY

Of course the first in order of time and importance is Willamette University. It has its origin in the Oregon Meth- odist Mission Indian Manual Labor Training School which Jason Lee started in the fall of 1834 with an enrollment of John, the lordly and lazy Calapooia boy, his scrofulous sister, Lucy Hedding, and another member of the tribe. In 1838, Jason Lee, somewhat disillusioned as to the destiny of the noble red man, returned to the United States for reinforce-


17 Taken from Minutes of Oregon Conference M. E. Church by John Parsons.