Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 25.djvu/345

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Early Days on the Willamette

303

McKenzie^[1] started with William W. Matthews^[2] and five or six men as hunters, to make an excursion up the Willamette. How long this party remained is only a matter of conjecture, as we have no record of the trip, its duration, or the amount of territory covered. We only know that McKenzie went up the Willamette till he reached its East fork, which is now called the McKenzie River.

He returned, however, before June 29 or 30, 1812, for on one of these dates he set out for the Snake River, where he established a post near the mouth of the Payette, which was later called Fort Boise.

↑ Donald McKenzie, partner, was in the N. W. Co. service until 1810, when he joined the Pacific Fur Co. Recruited men for this company in Montreal and Mackinac in July, 1810. Left Mackinac August 12, 1810, arriving St Louis Sept. 3, 1810. Left St. Louis Oct. 21, 1810, arriving at mouth of the Nodawa Nov. 16, 1810, and at Astoria January 18, 1812. Left for Willamette April 1, 1812. Left Astoria June 29 or 30, 1812, for Snake River, where he founded a post later known as Fort Boise, near the mouth of Payette River. Returned to Astoria January 15, 1813. Left for post on Snake River March 31, 1813. Returned to Astoria either June 11, 12 or 14, authorities differ. Left for interior Oct. 2, 1813, and returned on the 7th accompanied by J. G. McTavish and Angus Bethune of the N. W- Co. Left Fort George April 4, 1814. Reached Rocky Mountain House May 17, 1814, Pembina River June 1, 1814, and Fort William in July, 1814. Again at Fort William in 1816, at Fort George Sept. 30, 1816, and at Spokane House February 12, 1817; back at Fort George, and was ascending the Columbia and Snake Rivers in April and May, 1817. On the Columbia again 1819, on the Snake Sept. 10, 1819. in the Snake country again July 10, 1821. Established Chesterfield House on the Bow River in 1822. Was Chief Factor at Fort Garry on Red River in 1823, and was Governor of Assiniboia about eight years. Went to Mayville, N. Y., on Chautauqua Lake in 1833, and died there in 1851.
↑ William W. Matthews, clerk, was a New Yorker. Sailed on the Tonquin Sept. 6, 1810, arrived at Columbia River March 22, 1811. Left Astoria with Donald McKenzie for the Willamette April 1, 1812, with David Stuart on June 29 or 30, 1812, for the Okanogan, and with Alexander Henry for the Willamette January 22, 1814. Engaged with N. W. Co. as head foreman for two years at £125 per annum, on January 31, 1814. Took for wife daughter of Clatsop Chief Coboway, and their daughter Ellen, born in 1815, is the first recorded white child in Oregon. On February 26, 1814, examined Tongue Point as to its suitability for a post, and reported favorably on the same. On February 28, 1814, was sent with a party to clear away the under-brush at Tongue Point, preparatory to building a new post. Later returned to New York, where he died. His daughter was educated in the East, and married a wealthy citizen of Montreal.

[1] Donald McKenzie, partner, was in the N. W. Co. service until 1810, when he joined the Pacific Fur Co. Recruited men for this company in Montreal and Mackinac in July, 1810. Left Mackinac August 12, 1810, arriving St Louis Sept. 3, 1810. Left St. Louis Oct. 21, 1810, arriving at mouth of the Nodawa Nov. 16, 1810, and at Astoria January 18, 1812. Left for Willamette April 1, 1812. Left Astoria June 29 or 30, 1812, for Snake River, where he founded a post later known as Fort Boise, near the mouth of Payette River. Returned to Astoria January 15, 1813. Left for post on Snake River March 31, 1813. Returned to Astoria either June 11, 12 or 14, authorities differ. Left for interior Oct. 2, 1813, and returned on the 7th accompanied by J. G. McTavish and Angus Bethune of the N. W- Co. Left Fort George April 4, 1814. Reached Rocky Mountain House May 17, 1814, Pembina River June 1, 1814, and Fort William in July, 1814. Again at Fort William in 1816, at Fort George Sept. 30, 1816, and at Spokane House February 12, 1817; back at Fort George, and was ascending the Columbia and Snake Rivers in April and May, 1817. On the Columbia again 1819, on the Snake Sept. 10, 1819. in the Snake country again July 10, 1821. Established Chesterfield House on the Bow River in 1822. Was Chief Factor at Fort Garry on Red River in 1823, and was Governor of Assiniboia about eight years. Went to Mayville, N. Y., on Chautauqua Lake in 1833, and died there in 1851.

[2] William W. Matthews, clerk, was a New Yorker. Sailed on the Tonquin Sept. 6, 1810, arrived at Columbia River March 22, 1811. Left Astoria with Donald McKenzie for the Willamette April 1, 1812, with David Stuart on June 29 or 30, 1812, for the Okanogan, and with Alexander Henry for the Willamette January 22, 1814. Engaged with N. W. Co. as head foreman for two years at £125 per annum, on January 31, 1814. Took for wife daughter of Clatsop Chief Coboway, and their daughter Ellen, born in 1815, is the first recorded white child in Oregon. On February 26, 1814, examined Tongue Point as to its suitability for a post, and reported favorably on the same. On February 28, 1814, was sent with a party to clear away the under-brush at Tongue Point, preparatory to building a new post. Later returned to New York, where he died. His daughter was educated in the East, and married a wealthy citizen of Montreal.

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