As early as 1817, while teacher in one of the grammar schools of Boston, Kelley conceived the idea of leading a colony for the exploration and settlement of Oregon, then practically an unknown country. In his memoir he says: 'T began first to converse with friends about Oregon, then to lecture and write books and tracts in order to give the widest publicity to my plans and purposes." In 1824, he publicly announced his intention to settle Oregon and propagate Christianity beyond the Rocky mountains. Here is a definite and indisputable statement that Hall J. Kelley 's missionary enterprise antedated that of Jason Lee by ten years, and that of Marcus Whitman by twelve years, and that of the Catholic priests by fourteen years.
And while it is true that Kelley never did come to Oregon to preach the gospel, it is also true that he, more than all others, by his public lectures, letters, pamphlets and circulars, informed and enlightened the people of the Atlantic states as to the character and value of the territory of Oregon. And it was on the public sentiment created and built up by Kelley that the Methodists and Presbyterians were enabled to organize their missionary expeditions to Oregon and to get the first money to pay their expenses. And on this point the following statements are quite satisfactory proof:
"Boston, January 30, 1833."In the year 1831, I was editor of Zion's Herald, a religious paper sustaining the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. In the above year I published for Mr. H. J. Kelley a series of letters addressed to a member of congress developing his plans for the settlement of Oregon territory. At other times Mr. Kelley made appeals, through our paper, with a view to excite the minds of the Christian community to the importance of founding religious institutions in that territory. He was one of the first explorers of that region, and to his zeal and efforts is largely due the establishment of missionary operations in that country.Wm. C. Brown."
Rev. David Green, secretary of the American Board of Foreign Missions, bears similar testimony, and says: "The welfare and improvement of the Indians of that territory, and the introduction there of the blessings of civilization, and the useful arts, with education and Christian knowledge, seemed to be his leading object. Much of the early interest felt in the Oregon country by the New England people was probably the result of Mr. Kelley 's labors."
In 1829 Kelley procured from the legislature of Massachusetts an act to incorporate "The American Society for Encouraging the Settlement of the Oregon Territory," and in 1830 he published a "Geographical Memoir of Oregon," accompanied by a map of Oregon, drawn by himself, and also a "Alanual of the Oregon Expedition," for the information and guidance of emigrants to Oregon.
Then Kelly went to Washington city and spent the winters of 1830 and 1831 in explaining his scheme to members of congress and high government officials with a view of securing the action of the government and aiding or encouraging emigration to Oregon.
And then after many rebuffs and disappointments he left Boston for Oregon in 1832, two years before Jason Lee started for Oregon; and on his way west stopped at Washington city, where he was the recipient of many favors, as he says, and encouraged by public officers to go west and explore the country. Leaving Washington, he traveled by the way of the Cumberland wagon road to the Ohio river, and thence down the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans, and from thence by sailing vessel to Vera Cruz in Mexico, and from thence by stages to Jalapa and the City of Mexico. From the capital of Mexico by muleteer pack trains he made his way to San Bias, and from thence up the coast in a little schooner to Monterey, California. Here he offered his services to the
