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FAMILY GENEALOGY

Early settlers in Oregon

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This portion of the Website is dedicated to the Early Settlers in Oregon. These pages contain a variety of information on the early settlers in Oregon. Among all the families included in the HARTSOOK, BALL and CHANEY FAMILY LINES, many came to OREGON, before 1910, many arriving on the early Wagon Trains. Some heading to the fertile Willamette Valley, known for their rich farmlands and small but growing towns like INDEPENDENCE. While others felt the opportunities for a new life were more abundt in a larger town, and headed to PORTLAND. Though most were Farmers, the backbone to this state, there were also tradesmen; Blacksmiths, Carpenters, Road Builders, all helping to carve out this rough land, creating the beautiful State we see today.

The Pacific Northwest was the focus of a contest between the United States and Great Britain, which began at the end of the eighteenth century. Exploration by Lewis and Clark and Britain's David Thompson publicized the abundance of fur in the area. In 1811, New York financier John Jacob Astor established Fort Astoria at the mouth of the Columbia River as the anchor for a chain of Pacific Fur Company trading posts along the river. The War of 1812 caused the British to gain control of the posts as well as Fort Astoria.

Competition between the two countries for the fur trade continued during the 1820s and 1830s. The British Hudson's Bay Company dominated the region. John McLoughlin, who was appointed the Company's Chief Factor of the Columbia District, built Fort Vancouver in 1825. From his headquarters at the fort, McLouglin controlled an area of 670,000 square miles. Simultaneously, however, American interest in Oregon was increasing as the region came to be perceived as a place of cheap, fertile land, an alternative to the rapidly filling lands of the Midwest.

In 1836 two Methodist missionaries, Jason and Daniel Lee, arrived and McLoughlin persuaded them to establish their mission on the Willamette River, ten miles north of what is now Salem. Despite the fact that the local Indians were unreceptive to the Lees, the mission prospered and soon produced its own lumber and flour.

During the 1830s, the Lees' mission served as a magnet for other Americans who also settled in the Willamette Valley. The Hudson's Bay Company held a monopoly on cattle in Oregon. President Andrew Jackson persuaded the American settlers to join together to buy cattle in California and bring them back to Oregon. In January 1837 the Willamette Cattle Company was formed for this purpose. Both Jason Lee and John McLoughlin were shareholders. That same year some 600 head of cattle were brought back to Oregon. The success of this venture gave American settlers a growing sense of independence from the Hudson's Bay Company.

Americans continued to move into the Willamette Valley. Together with French-Canadians who had been employed by the Company, there were some 500 whites in the area by 1842. American settlers formed a government in 1843. Oregonians voted in an open air meeting at Champoeg on July 5 to establish Oregon's provisional government. This government was supposed to function until the United States extended its jurisdiction over Oregon. At this time, slavery was prohibited.

The first government was ineffective and in 1844, representatives of this new contingent came to power and began to form a new government modeled on the ones they had left in the Midwest. The following year, John McLoughlin, as representative of the Hudson's Bay Company, recognized the provisional government.

An estimated 53,000 settlers came to Oregon between 1840 and 1860. Most of them made the journey over the 2,000 mile Oregon Trail, which stretched from Independence, Missouri to western Oregon. The trip took six to eight months, and many immigrants arrived with their resources exhausted. John McLoughlin supplied food, clothing, temporary shelter, and even jobs to immigrants at Fort Vancouver, despite Hudson's Bay Company orders to the contrary.

By 1846, the United States and Great Britain agreed to divide the Pacific Northwest at the 49th parallel- the present border with Canada. Americans in the Willamette Valley wanted territorial status immediately, yet the debate over slavery in Congress delayed this step. When white settlers began to arrive, Indians inhabited all of present-day Oregon. Whites failed to understand very much about Indian culture. In turn, Indians did not understand white customs and traditions. As a result, Indian-white relations were marked by frequent skirmishes during the early period.

In 1847, Cayuse Indians attacked the Whitman mission at Waiilaptu and killed fourteen people. The immediate cause of the attack was an epidemic of measles, brought by immigrants, which had devasted the local Indians. They believed that Marcus Whitman had introduced the disease to get Indian lands and horses. The Whitman Massacre and settlers' demands for protection finally caused Congress to move on this issue of territorial status, and Oregon became a United States territory on August 13, 1848.

In 1850, Congress passed the Donation Land Act, which recognized most of the land claims filed under the provisional government. Single white males over the age of twenty-one could claim 320 acres. If they were married, they could claim an additional 320 acres for their wife. Widows could hold title to land, but single women could not. Territorial officials began their terms on March 3, 1849, in Oregon City, when Oregon was still predominantly wilderness. Homesteads usually consisted of one room log houses with vegetable gardens and a few acres planted in wheat. With little hard currency available, wheat was the primary medium of exchange. Few roads existed, so water was the quickest way to move crops and supplies. Some settlers laid out townsites from their claims. John McLoughlin was the first to do this when he platted Oregon City in 1842.

Despite the steady flow of immigrants to Oregon, many settlers were genuinely isolated. Only five newspapers were published in 1849. Post offices did not appear in most towns until the 1850s, and stage coaches and express companies were just beginning to operate. When gold was discovered in Southern Oregon during the 1850s, the government opened more roads.

During its brief existence, the territorial government was deluged with petitions from citizens who asked for laws in all areas of everyday life. They wanted divorces, schools, and pensions; prohibition of liquor; care for the insane; college charters and release from militia duty. On February 14,1859, as the national debate over slavery was drawing to a close, Oregon was admitted to the union as the thirty-third state.

The following list contains the names of those known families, who took a leap of faith, and settled here, in Oregon, later spreading throughout the state. Many remained on or near the original land they claimed, when they first arrived.

Baker County
NameArrivalArea
Firmon L Wilson1898 - 1900South Sumpter, Baker Co.
Benton County
NameArrivalArea
Archibald Wilson1864 - 1866Monroe, Benton Co.
Jerome Wilson1864 - 1866Monroe, Benton Co.
Margaret Wilson1864 - 1866Monroe, Benton Co.
Mary Wilson1864 - 1866Monroe, Benton Co.
William B Wilson1864 - 1866Monroe, Benton Co.
Clatsop County
NameArrivalArea
Clement Bradbury1847Clatsop Plains, Clatsop Co.
John Hobson1843Clatsop Plains, Clatsop Co.
Richard Hobson1843Clatsop Plains, Clatsop Co.
William Hobson1843Clatsop Plains, Clatsop Co.
Columbia County
NameArrivalArea
Emily Sloper Johnson1880 - 1882Scapoose, Columbia Co.
Josephine County
NameArrivalArea
Franklin S Ball1910 - 1912Waldo, Josephine Co.
Halleck Ball1910 - 1912Waldo, Josephine Co.
Lane County
NameArrivalArea
Pleasant C Noland1853Springfield, Lane Co.
Joseph Young1850 - 1860Briees, Lane Co.
Marion County
NameArrivalArea
Ambrose Sloper1860 - 1870Salem, Marion Co.
Multnomah County
NameArrivalArea
William Gatton1852Portland, Multnomah Co.
Isaac Newton Hartsook1910Portland, Multnomah Co.
Lemual Payton Hartsook1910Portland, Multnomah Co.
William Robert Hartsook1910Portland, Multnomah Co.
William Vanice Hartsook1910Portland, Multnomah Co.
Henry H Northup1871Portland, Multnomah Co.
Thomas Owens1843Portland, Multnomah Co.
Barney D Springer1846Portland, Multnomah Co.
Polk County
NameArrivalArea
Amos Allen Ball1882 - 1885Independence, Polk Co.
Elmer A Ball1882 - 1885Independence, Polk Co.
James W Ball1882 - 1885Independence, Polk Co.
Leslie Pearl Ball1882 - 1885Independence, Polk Co.
Reason R Boothby1848Polk Co.
Harrison Brunk1849Rickreall, Polk Co.
Robert B Chaney1877Eola, Polk Co.
Emberson E Cooper1863Spring Valley, Polk Co.,
George Fisher1880 - 1890Independence, Polk Co.
David M Hampton1875Eola, Polk Co.
William G Hart1870 - 1880Independence, Polk Co.
James B Putnam1870 - 1880Eola, Polk Co.
John H Putnam1870 - 1880Eola, Polk Co.
Marion Putnam1870 - 1880Eola, Polk Co.
Newton Putnam1870 - 1880Eola, Polk Co.
William P Putnam1870 - 1880Eola, Polk Co.
Winfrey N Putnam1870 - 1880Eola, Polk Co.
Christopher Columbus Ragsdale1872Polk Co.
James A Roberts1876 - 1880Independence, Polk Co.
James A Simmons1885Independence, Polk Co.
Abner Sloper1872 - 1879Polk Co.
Barbara Sloper1880 - 1891Independence, Polk Co.
Carvil Sloper1870 - 1875Polk Co.
David Sloper1870 - 1878Polk Co.
George W Sloper1860 - 1877Independence, Polk Co.
Henry Slopermid 1850'sIndependence, Polk Co.
James M Sloper1873 - 1874Independence, Polk Co.
John E Sloper1872 - 1879Independence, Polk Co.
Mary Sloper Stewart1860 - 1875Polk Co.
Oscar Sloper1869 -1873Independence, Polk Co.
William H Sloper1876 - 1879Independence, Polk Co.
William Wann Stockton1872Zena, Polk Co.
George T Waller1847Independence, Polk Co.
Hugh McNary Waller1847Independence, Polk Co.
Jane McNary Waller1847Independence, Polk Co.
Thomas O Waller1849Polk Co.
Andrew Wilson1876Independence, Polk Co.
Washington County
NameArrivalArea
Charles H Raffety1852Forest Grove, Washington Co.
David J Raffety1852Forest Grove, Washington Co.
Rial Mallory Raffety1852Forest Grove, Washington Co.
Samuel B Raffety1852Forest Grove, Washington Co.
Jabez Wilkes1856 - 1858Washington Co.
Alowisius C Wirtz1877 - 1880Columbia, Washington Co.
Yamhill County
NameArrivalArea
John James Burton1844 Yamhill Co.
Bailey Chaney1878Amity, Yamhill Co.
Charles Chaney1878Amity, Yamhill Co.
Emily K Chaney1878Amity, Yamhill Co.
Joseph W Chaney1878Amity, Yamhill Co.
Henry Cooper1844Yamhill Co.
Martha S Coulter1870 - 1880Amity, Yamhill Co.
Charles Galloway1852Yamhill Co.
Elma E Goucher1864Yamhill Co.
George W Goucher1864Yamhill Co.
Henry Clay Gunn1869 - 1875Yamhill Co.
Levi Hagey1847Yamhill Co.,
Henry J Hampton1875Amity, Yamhill Co.
James H Hampton1875Amity, Yamhill Co.
Stephen A Hampton1875Amity, Yamhill Co.
Thomas R Hampton1875 - 1880Amity, Yamhill Co.
Simon Likens1850Yamhill Co.
Benjamin W Maddox1864 - 1870Amity, Yamhill Co.
Simon Morris1845Yamhill Co.
George Richard Palmer1910Willamina, Yamhill Co.
Charles H Sherman1873Amity, Yamhill Co.
Edgar N Sherman1873Amity, Yamhill Co.
Frank E Sherman1873Amity, Yamhill Co.
Warwick Tidd1850Yamhill Co.
James A West1872 - 1875Yamhill Co.
James Robert Young1845Yamhill Co.

Oregon Territory Pioneers
Emigrant Lists,
Wagon Trains
from 1839 - 1855
Oregon Pioneers
The Great Migration
The Wagon Train
of 1843

Biographies of Early Pioneers to Oregon

Marion County Census

Polk County Census

Washington County Census

Yamhill County Census

OREGON CEMETERIES

The following are hard to find Cemetery Listings, not found on USGenweb or Rootsweb. All have 1 or more of our ancestors buried there.

Multnomah County

Columbian CemeteryPartical listings of 850 burials, of the more than 5,000 total burials in this cemetery.
  1. The Columbian Cemetery (note the 'n' at the end of Columbian). It's also been known as the Love Cemetery, Columbia Cemetery, and Columbia-Kenton. It is not to be confused with the Columbia Masonic, which is at NE 99th and NE Sandy Blvd in Portland. The offical date on the gate is 1857, but it was a private cemetery before that, founded by Capt. Lewis Love as a Pioneer cemetery.
  2. The above link is to the Historic Columbian Cemetery Website. It is worth looking at. They are trying hard to obtain money to maintain the upkeep of this old cemetery. There are quite a number of headstone photos, 15 or 20 photos of the cemetery grounds, biographies and other assorted information.

Columbian Cemetery This is a second site with a partical listing of over 70 burial sites, located in the Columbian Cemetery, 1151 N. Columbia Blvd., Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon.

Rose City Cemetery Partical listing of over 402 burial sites, located in the Rose City Cemetery, 5625 N.E. Freemont, Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon.

Umatilla County

Hermiston Cemetery Partical listing of over 113 burial sites, located in the Hermiston Cemetery, Hermiston, Umatilla Co., Oregon.

Olney Cemetery Partical listing of over 2,243 burial sites, located in the Olney Cemetery, Pendelton, Umatilla Co., Oregon.

Yamhill County

Amity Cemetery Partical listing of over 800 burial sites, located in the Amity Cemetery, end of 6th Street, Amity, Yamhill Co., Oregon.

Amity Cemetery Also see Yamhill Co. Oregon Tombstone Project, as Doris Baker has just submitted a complete listing of burials for the cemetery. However, some names have been inverted, but seem to have been listed correct way also. Doris has been collecting alot of information on the early residents of Amity, and may be able to help you with additional information on the subject.

Lafayette Pioneer Cemetery Partical listing of over 52 burial sites, located in the Lafayette Pioneer Cemetery, Lafayette, Yamhill Co., Oregon.

Zena Cemetery Partical listing of over 212 burial sites, located in the Zena Cemetery, Yamhill Co., Oregon.

The following are direct descendant lines and assorted documents and photos of interest, for those who migrated to Oregon. These lines go back several more generations than shown here. Please refer to the site map, for earlier generations.

Descendant Line


HARTSOOK FAMILY LINE

WILLIAM ROBERT HARTSOOK
Descendant line of William Robert Hartsook, born in 1858, Washington Co., Virginia. William married Telitha Cuma Payton.

GEORGE RICHARD PALMER
Descendant line of George Richard Palmer, born in 1864, Detroit Michigan, his descendant married into the Hartsook family. George married Augusta Borchelt.

BALL FAMILY LINE

AMOS ALLEN BALL
Descendant line of Amos Allen Ball born 1842 Jamestown, Chautauqua Co., New York. Amos married Huldah Jane Sloper.

DAVID SLOPER
Descendant line of David Sloper born 1808 Vinalhaven, Lincoln Co., Maine. David married Nancy Pickens.
THOMAS SLOPER
Descendant line of Thomas Sloper born 1810 Mount Desert, Hancock Co. Maine. Thomas married Barbara Blake.
HENRY SLOPER
Descendant line of Henry Sloper born 1811 Mount Desert, Hancock Co. Maine. Henry married Rebecca Wells.
AMBROSE SLOPER
Descendant line of Ambrose Sloper born 1817 Maine. Ambrose married Caroline E Squires.
JAMES C SLOPER
Descendant line of James C Sloper born 1826 Vermont, Meigs Co. Ohio. James married Emily Friermouth.
ABNER SLOPER
Descendant line of Abner Sloper born 1828 Megis Co. Ohio. Abner married Lucina Colder then Marguerite Means.

WILLIAM B WILSON
Descendant line of William B Wilson, born about 1810 in Pennsylvania and died after 1880 in probably Benton County Oregon. First documentation found in the 1860 census for Sullivan County Missouri. He married Elizabeth.>

CHANEY FAMILY LINE

CLEMENT BRADBURY
Descendant line of Clement Bradbury, born 1819 in Maine and died in 1902 in Clatsop Co., Oregon. Arrived in Oregon before 1847. He married Ann H Hobson in 1850 in Clatsop Co., Oregon.

JOHN C CHANEY
Descendant line of John C Chaney, born 1821 Louisiana. First found in 1850 Missouri, and descendants by 1878 in Oregon. John married Emily Katherine Stockton.

EMBERSON ELBERT COOPER, born 28 May 1812 in Wayne Co., Kentucky and died 12 August 1880 in West Salem, Marion Co., Oregon. Arriving in the Wagon Train of 1863. He married Nancy Wann.

CHARLES GALLOWAY, born 20 August 1798 in Hampstead Co., Virginia and died 30 September 1884 in Yamhill Co., Oregon. Arrived by Wagon Train in 1852. He married Mary Haney. His grandson married into the Cooper family.

HENRY H NORTHUP, born in 1839 in Massachusette and died 24 September 1927 in Portland, Multnomah Co., Oregon. Arrived in Oregon in 1871. He married Lydia B Harkness. His son married into the Cooper family.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS RAGSDALE
Descendant line of Christopher Columbus Ragsdale, born abt. 1847 in Missouri, died 1894 in Portland Oregon. Arrived in Sheridan, Polk Co., Oregon in 1872. Married Mary Lavina Hampton.

EDGAR NORTON SHERMAN
Descendant line of Edgar Norton Sherman, born 1825 in Kingsbury, Washington Co., New York. Edgar married Almira P Trumbull.

CHARITY ARRETTA STOCKTON
Descendant line of Charity Arretta Stockton, born 1832 Bolivar, Polk Co., Missouri. Charity married Henry Clay Gunn.
ELIZABETH JANE STOCKTON
Descendant line of Elizabeth Jane Stockton, born 1831 Rhea, Megis Co., Tennessee. Elizabeth married Henry James Hampton.
MARTHA SARAH STOCKTON
Descendant line of Martha Sarah Stockton, born 1836 Polk Co., Missouri. Martha married John Drinnen then William F Coulter.
NANCY MORGAN STOCKTON
Descendant line of Nancy Morgan Stockton, born 1832 Greene Co., Missouri. Nancy married Newton Putnam.
WILLIAM WANN STOCKTON
Descendant line of William Wann Stockton, born 1845 Bolivar, Polk Co., Missouri. William married Catherine Tennessee McCray.
NANCY WANN
Descendant line of Nancy Wann, born 1813 Wayne Co., Kentucky. Nancy married Emberson Elbert Cooper.

Indirect Descendant Lines

The following are indirect descendant lines, to the above families. The common link with these lines, all were pioneers to Oregon, arriving before 1865, settling first in MARION, MULTNOMAH, POLK and YAMHILL counties.

WILLIAM GATTON, born 1831 in Holmes Co., Ohio Arriving with the Wagon Train in 1852.

GEORGE W GOUCHER
Descendant line of George W Goucher, born 1820 in Parkersburg, Wood Co., Virginia. First found in Oregon in 1864. His descendants for the most part stayed in Oregon. George married Delilah Ann Morrison, Jane Lindsay, Almira P Trumbull Sherman and Catherine E Sailing.
LEVI HAGEY
Descendant line of Levi Hagey, born 1825 North Carolina. First found in Oregon, arriving with the Wagon Train of 1847, with his descendants remaining in Oregon. Levi married Elizabeth M Shuck then Emily Katherine Stockton Chaney.
WILLIAM HOBSON
Descendant line of William Hobson, born 1797 in England and died 1879 in Clatsop Co., Oregon. Arriving with the Wagon Train of 1843. He married Margaret Hutchinson and Elizabeth Turner. His son married into the Young family.
ANN H HOBSON, born 1831 in Derbyshire, England and died in 1856 in Clatsop Co., Oregon. Arriving with the Wagon Train of 1843. She married Clement A Bradbury. Ann H Hobson is the daughter of William Hobson.
JOHN HOBSON, born 1825 in Derbyshire, England and died 1896 in Clatsop Co., Oregon. Arriving with the Wagon Train of 1843. He married Diana M Owens. John Hobson is the son of William Hobson.
RICHARD HOBSON, born 1829 in Derbyshire, England and died 1878 at sea bound for Astoria Oregon. Arriving with the Wagon Train of 1843. He married Kezziah Catherine Kate Young. Richard Hobson is the son of William Hobson.
SIMON LIKENS
Descendant line of Simon Likens, born 1817 Pennsylvania. First found in Oregon, arriving with the Wagon Train of 1850. Simon married Nancy then Sarah Ann.
SIMON MORRIS
Descendant line of Simon Morris, born 1819 Kentucky. First found in Oregon, arriving with the Wagon Train of 1845. Simon married Hannah Boyle.

GEORGE NOLAND
Descendant line of George Noland, born in 1857 in Lane Co., Oregon and died in 1915 in Klamath Falls, Klamath Co., Oregon. George Noland, son of Pleasant Calvin Noland, Pioneer of the 1853 Wagon Train to Lane Co., Oregon. He married Charlotte Lottie Goodell in 1888 Clatsop Co., Oregon.

THOMAS OWENS
Descendant line of Thomas Owens, born 1813 Wales. Migrated to United States about 1827, first found in Oregon, arriving with the Applegate Wagon Train of 1843, with his descendants for the most part remaining in Oregon. Thomas married Emline Young.

ROBERT OWENS
Descendant line of Robert Owens, born 1801 Wales and died in 1846 Oregon. Arrived in the 1845 Wagon Train. He married Ellen Leeper.

HUGH PEARCE OWENS
Descendant line of Hugh Pearce Owens, born 1817 Wales and died in 1879 in Salem, Marion Co., Oregon. Arrived in the 1852 Wagon Train to Oregon. He married Elexandrina Uzafovage.

SAMUEL B RAFFETY
Descendant line of Samuel b Raffety, born 1815 Simpson Co. Kentucky. First found in Oregon, arriving with the Wagon Train of 1852, with his descendants remaining in Oregon. Samuel married Mary Jane Hoover.

BARNEY D SPRINGER
Descendant line of Barney D Springer, born 1804 New Jersey. First found in Oregon, arriving with the Wagon Train of 1844, with his descendants remaining in Oregon. Barney married Susan.
THOMAS C WALLER
Descendant line of Thomas C Waller, born 1786 North Carolina. His descendants first found in Oregon, arriving with the Wagon Train of 1847, for the most part all remained in Oregon. Thomas married Jane McNary.

EMELINE LAYTON YOUNG
Descendant line of Emeline Layton Young, born 1827 in Sydney, New South Wales and died in 1903 in McMinnville, Yamhill Co., Oregon. Daughter of James Robert Young. Arrived in 1845. She married Thomas Owens.
JANE ELIZABETH YOUNG, born 1829 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and died between 1920 & 1930 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., California. Arrived in 1845. She married Lawson Scott. Jane Elizabeth Young is the daughter of James Robert Young.
KEZZIAH CATHERINE KATE YOUNG, born 1836 in Hobart, Tasmania and died 1922 in Clatsop Co., Oregon. Arrived in 1845. She married Richard Hobson. Kezziah Catherine Kate Young is the daughter of James Robert Young.


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This Web Site was last updated December 3, 2008, thanks for stopping by!

COPYRIGHT 2007: Most all information compiled is of public domain. However, there are certain items on my website that are not included under "public domain." Before using any information, please contact me. As a rule, I have no problem sharing any information I have, that may be useful in your research, as long as you post credit.
Disclaimer: I have tried to present all my information in a factual form. All facts presented are from personal interpretation of documents viewed, and can not be held libel if incorrect.

Barbara Hartsook - THE HARTSOOK BALL FAMILY GENEALOGY

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