Overview of the Collection
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Repository Name:
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Oregon Historical Society
Research Library
1200 SW Park Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97205
Phone: 503-306-5240
Fax: 503-219-2040
E-mail: libreference@ohs.org
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Collection Number:
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Mss 929
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Creator:
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Abernethy, George, 1807-1877
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Title:
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George Abernethy Papers
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Dates:
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1833-1905 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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0.6 cubic feet
2 document boxes
1 oversize folder
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Languages:
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The
collection is in English
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Summary:
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Papers of a provisional governor of the
Oregon Territory, churchman, and merchant. Includes letterpress copybook,
1847-1850; additional correspondence, including correspondence with Neil M.
Howison, captain of the schooner
Shark, wrecked on the bar of the
Columbia River; papers of the Brig Henry Association, ca. 1850; papers of
George's son William Abernethy; legal, military, and business papers; receipts,
biographical data, clippings and ephemera.
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Biographical Note
George Abernethy was a churchman, a merchant, and the first and only
provisional governor of Oregon. He was born in New York City on October 7, 1807
and married Anne Cope in 1830. He was recruited by Rev. Jason Lee to assume
financial management of the Methodist mission in Oregon and accompanied him on
the ship
Lausanne, sailing around the Horn to Oregon
in 1840.
Abernethy was in charge of the mission store at Willamette Falls, later
Oregon City. This was his center of activity where he is said to have erected
the first brick structure built in the state. He also obtained a printing press
and aided in the establishment of the first newspaper in Oregon.
Abernethy promoted the lumbering and fishery businesses and established
commercial connections with the Sandwich Islands (Hawaiian Islands), California
and the Atlantic Coast. He was in the Sandwich Islands in 1845 when he was
elected governor of the Oregon Territory, two years after the first Provisional
Government was founded. He was re-elected to the office in 1847.
He had many business enterprises in Oregon City, but a flood destroyed
most of his physical property in 1861. Afterwards, with considerably reduced
circumstances, Abernethy moved to Portland, where he lived out his declining
years. There, for a time, he formed a partnership with Michael Herr. Their
business card stated they were "commission & forwarding agents, for the
sale or forwarding of flour, grain, mill, feed, hay, fruit, pork, bacon, lard,
etc., agents for the sale of Oak Point lumber...," with offices on Knott's
wharf. Abernethy died in Portland on May 2, 1877.
George Abernethy's son William was born in New York state in 1832 and
came to Oregon with his family in 1840. He married Sarah Fidelia Gray, and the
couple had 10 children. He died in Forest Grove, Oregon, in 1917.
Content Description
George Abernethy's papers cover the period 1834-1897 and include
correspondence, legal documents, ephemera, business records, the papers of
William Abernethy, George's son, and the Brig Henry Association. The papers
cover business matters, political and personal activities.
Correspondents include John McLoughlin, Jason Lee, James Douglas,
William Fraser Tolmie, Joel Palmer, Henry A. G. Lee, Peter Skene Ogden, and
Jesse Applegate. Subjects include: mission finances, the Oregon boundary
settlement, the Hudson's Bay Company, the U.S. war with Mexico, the Whitman
Massacre, the Cayuse War, and other conflicts between Native Americans and
settlers. Legal documents contain land and business agreements.
The letterpress copybook contains copies of approximately 250 letters,
1847-1850, dealing with Abernethy's business affairs. Although the book is
physically well-preserved, the handwriting is often difficult to decipher.
Abernethy family papers (designated Mss 929-1) contain: correspondence,
invoices, and statements pertaining to Abernethy's business interests,
including partnerships with Michael Herr and plaster and cement business; deeds
to land purchased by Abernethy, mostly in Oregon City; land records and sewing
machine business correspondence of William Abernethy; letters from J. Quinn
Thornton and Samuel R. Thurston; quitclaim deed for lots in Oregon City, from
John and Margaret McLoughlin to J. Quinn Thornton; tax receipts; and maps.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series as follows
- Series A: General papers, Mss 929, 1834-1897
- Series B: Abernethy family papers, Mss 929-1, 1833-1905
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information Letterpress copybook deposited by William Abernethy, 1893
Additional papers, gift of Camilla Abernethy, Oct. 20, 1967, Library
Accession 10329
Materials in Mss 929-1, gift of Dorothy Gaines, August 1985, Library
Accession 18505
Separated Materials Daguerreotype of George Abernethy & Co. store, Oregon City, ca.
1855, transferred to the Cased Images Collection, Oregon Historical Society
Research Library
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access The collection is open to the public.
Restrictions on Use The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the
Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication,
and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library
before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to
all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.
Preferred Citation George Abernethy Papers, 1836-1897, Mss 929, Oregon Historical Society
Research Library
Subjects
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
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| Abernethy,
George, 1807-1877--Archives |
| Applegate,
Jesse A., 1811-1888--Correspondence |
| Douglas,
James, 1803-1877--Correspondence |
| Lee, Henry A. G., 1918-1850--Correspondence |
| Lee,
Jason, 1803-1845--Correspondence |
| McLoughlin, John, 1784-1857--Correspondence |
| Ogden,
Peter Skene, 1790-1854--Correspondence |
| Palmer,
Joel, 1810-1881--Correspondence |
| Tolmie,
William Fraser--Correspondence |
| Abernathy family |
| Hudson's
Bay Company |
| Methodist
Episcopal Church--Missions--Oregon |
| Canada--Boundaries--United States |
| Oregon City
(Or.)--History |
| Oregon--History--To 1859 |
| Oregon--Politics and government--To 1859 |
| United
States--Boundaries--Canada |
| Cayuse
Indians--Wars |
| Governors--Oregon--Correspondence |
| Indians of North
America--Oregon--Government relations |
| Indians of North
America--Oregon--Wars |
| Pacific Coast Indians, Wars
with, 1847-1865 |
| Whitman Massacre,
1847 |
| Business
records |
| Letters |
| Maps |
| Governors |
| Other Creators : |
| Abernethy,
William--Archives |
| Abernethy & Herr |
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
List of correspondents found in box 1, folders 3-13
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Vernon, George
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Notification of Abernethy's election as mayor
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Jan. 1, 1844
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McLoughlin, John
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Concerns a woman imprisoned for wrongdoing
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Feb. 1, 1844
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Lee, Jason
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Mission finances; Ladd & Co. (original and copy)
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March 21, 1844
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McClure, John
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Repair of the Peacock launch; John
McLoughlin
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Feb. 7, 1846
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McClure, John
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Peacocklaunch
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Aug. 13, 1846
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Tibbets, C.
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Fracas between settlers and Clatsop Indians
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Aug. 19, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Sale of
Peacock launch
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Aug. 14, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Sale of
Peacock launch
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Aug. 15, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Sale of
Peacock launch
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Sept. 10, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Deserters
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Sept. 11, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Wreck of the
Shark
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Sept. 15, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Wreck of the
Shark
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Oct. 6, 1846
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Roberts
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Shipment of millstones and other articles
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Oct. 7, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Letter
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Oct. 23, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Oregon boundary settlement; war with Mexico
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Oct. 28, 1846
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Douglas, James
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Oregon boundary, with enclosure containing a copy of a letter
from A. Forbes to Sir George Seymour
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Nov. 2, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Letter
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Nov. 11, 1846
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Howison, Neil
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Deserters; Hudson's Bay Co.
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Nov. 25, 1846
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Howison, Neil
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First U.S. flag in Oregon; murder of an Indian woman
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Dec. 1, 1846
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Burnett, Peter H.
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Letter of resignations Supreme Court judge
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Dec. 29, 1846
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Howison, Neil M.
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Letter
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Jan. 10, 1847
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Howison, Neil M.
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Mexican war news
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Feb. 9, 1847
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Howison, Neil M.
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Oregon boundary & Hudson's Bay Co.; government in California
and Oregon
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Feb. 19, 1847
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Brown, John
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Thank you note and request for help in securing
employment
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April 15, 1847
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Gary, George
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Details of his passage down the Columbia River
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July 30, 1847
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Tolmie, William Fraser
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Harvest, roads, temperance elections
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Aug. 21, 1847
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Douglas, James
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Whitman massacre and military actions taken; with enclosure of
copy of letter from William McBean to the Board of Management, Nov. 30, 1847,
regarding Whitman massacre
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Dec. 7, 1847
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Lee, H. A. G.
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Whitman massacre; Indian war council at The Dalles
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Dec. 16, 1847
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Lee, H. A. G.
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Wascopam; First Co. of Oregon Riflemen
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Dec. 26, 1847
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Folsom, J. L.
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Request for report on Oregon coal resources, needed for
steamers
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Dec. 27, 1847
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Douglas, James
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Proposed levy on Hudson's Bay Co. [original and copy]
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Dec. 31, 1847
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Douglas, James
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Hudson's Bay Co. payments to Indians of ammunition [original and
copy]
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Jan. 4, 1848
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Lee, H. A. G.
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Non-arrival of reinforcements; skirmish with Indians
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Jan. 20, 1848
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Gilliam, Cornelius, Colonel
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Plan to raid Indian camp on Deschutes River for
livestock
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Jan. 25, 1848
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Major, R.
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Request and plan to raise a volunteer infantry battalion to
assist in Mexican War
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Jan. 28, 1848
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Lee, H. A. G.
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Indian and military policy; Leletsa, a friendly Indian
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Feb. 8, 1848
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Lee, H. A. G.
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Military tactics; battle at Meek's crossing
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Feb. 8, 1848
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Ogden, Peter Skene
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Cayuse War
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Feb. 29, 1848
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Gilliam, Cornelius, Colonel
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Battle near Umatilla River
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Feb. 29, 1848
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William, William, Captain
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Report on fort's condition; suspicion of imminent attack
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Feb. 29, 1848
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Penning, John
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Mr. Curry; morality and Oregonians
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March 2, 1848
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Gilliam, Cornelius, Colonel
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Request for more men
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March 10, 1848
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Applegate, Jesse
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Settler-Indian conflicts
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March 12, 1848
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Douglas, James
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News from Walla Walla and Fort Colville; meeting of Nez Perce
Indians with commissioners; encloses copy of letter from Joel Palmer to William
McBean, report on status of hostilities, March 4, 1848
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March 15, 1848
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Applegate, Jesse
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Capt. Scott; immigrants
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March 20, 1848
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Ogden, Peter Skene
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Letter
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March 21, 1848
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Palmer, Joel
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Resignation as Superintendent of Indian Affairs
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March 28, 1848
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English, S.
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Reports that the enemy is scattered
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March 28, 1848
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[name illegible]
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Complaints of officers' lack of action
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April 4, 1848
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Hardie, J.
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Military supplies
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April 12, 1848
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Lee, H. A. G.
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Military organization
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April 17, 1848
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English, S.
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Raising men near the Umpqua
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April 24, 1848
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Blanchet, Augustin Magloire Alexandre, Bishop of Walla
Walla
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Missionary work and philosophy [original and
translation]
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April 29, 1848
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Lee, H. A. G.
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Cayuse war
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May 5, 1848
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Waters, James
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Arrival at Fort Waters of Col. H. Lee; council with Nez Perce
Indians
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May 14, 1848
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Cooke, C. W.
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Concerns military commission
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May 14, 1848
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Lee, H. A. G.
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Council with Indians
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May 14, 1848
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Jones, Ap. C.
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Letter to G. E. Pickett: inability to send ships to Oregon due
to Mexican War; copy sent to G. Abernethy
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May 24, 1848
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Palmer, Joel
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Financial difficulty in supplying the army
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June 4, 1848
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Eyck, A. Ten
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Enclosing letter of June 5, 1848, to Thomas Ap. C. Jones,
regarding Indian receipt of ammunition from Hudson's Bay Company and attack of
Hudson's Bay Co. fort
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June 11, 1848
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Ogden, Peter Skene
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Letter
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June 5, 1848
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Palmer, Joel
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Suggests discharge of the men, who are restless
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June 19, 1848
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Lee, H. A. G.
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Concerns misunderstanding over his temporary post of Lt.
Col.
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June 24, 1848
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Rodgers, Alexander T.
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Complaint of a priest's causing a disturbance with
Indians
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July 9, 1848
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Hardie, James A.
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Gold rush, Sacramento River, Calif.
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July 10, 1848
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Palmer, Joel
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Board of Loan Commissioners' refusal to supply troops
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July 12, 1848
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Burnett, L.
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Acknowledging receipt of Abernethy's letter
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Aug. 9, 1848
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Rodgers, Alexander T.
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Asks directions concerning boat load of guns and ammunition
consigned to French priests
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Aug. 21, 1848
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U.S. House of Representatives
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Disposition of arms and ammunition seized at Wascopam
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undated
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U.S. House of Representatives
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Land claim
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July 12, 1849
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Pritchette, K.
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Meeting with Cayuse chiefs for surrender of murderers
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March 26, 1850
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Morris, George
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Personal
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Oct. 12, 1850
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Morris, George
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Personal
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undated
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Herr, Michael
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Personal
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Jan. 5, 1851
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Herr, Michael
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Concerns his Oregon property
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Aug. 26, 1851
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Stanley
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Placement of the gallery in Smithsonian
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Dec. 31, 1851
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Spalding, Henry H.
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Solicits testimony with regard to mission claims accruing from
Cayuse War
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April 27, 1852
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Hall, Margaret M.
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Asks news of her brother, Theodore Chambers
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Feb. 4, 1852
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Holbrook, Henry
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Political gossip about Democrats, Whigs, Oregon
Legislature
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Dec. 20, 1853
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U.S. Treasury Department
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Encloses form of power of attorney for receiving money awarded
to Hiram Clark in Cayuse War claim
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April 22, 1854
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Gurnett, Lesley
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Personal
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March 15, 1855
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Gibbs
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Military road survey; territorial election
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July 31, 1856
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Hodges, Henry
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Intention to marry Abernethy's daughter, Anne, and giving
character references
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Dec. 30, 1858
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Holbrook, H.
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Attempts to secure an appointment for Abernethy and compensation
for services as Governor during Cayuse War
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June 8, 1861
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Neyce
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Order for lumber
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Oct. 2, 1862
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Clay, J.
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Personal
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July 2, 1868
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Hodges, Henry
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Personal
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Sept. 27, 1875
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Thurston, Samuel R.
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Order for foodstuffs
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Dec. 10, 1880
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Johnson, Josephine D.
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Requests historical data on the Baptist Church
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July 8, 1897
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Series A:
General papers, Mss
929, 1834-1897
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Container(s)
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Description
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Legal documents and
ephemera, 1834-1881
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Includes legal documents pertaining to a trespass case in
1846, in which George Abernethy was a defendant; certificate of the re-election
of George Abernethy as Governor of the Oregon Territory, July 14, 1847; land
deeds and land grants, 1857-1873.
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Correspondence
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General, 1844
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General, January-October 1846
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General, November-December 1846
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General, 1847
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Cayuse War, January 1848
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General, February 1848
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Cayuse War, March-April 1848
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Cayuse War, May-December 1848
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General, 1849-1850
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General, 1851-1897
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Letters from George Abernethy, 1846-1877
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Includes: letterpress copy of a letter from George
Abernethy to President James K. Polk regarding the conditions and political
situation in the Oregon Territory; letters from Abernethy to his brother,
written from New York, 1851-1855; and a letter from Abernethy, probably to his
son-in-law Henry Hodges, 1877, supposedly the last letter he wrote before his
death.
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Brig
Henry Association
papers, 1850-1852
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Includes land deeds and letters from the Association's agent
in Massachusetts to its agent in Oregon.
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Business records,
general, 1848-1872
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Includes ledger sheets, probably listing gold received from
various persons for purposes of refining, with location of mines.
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William Abernethy
papers, 1863-1894
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Includes personal letters; two orders from the Office of the
Chief Quarter Master, Dept. of Columbia, to William Abernethy to examine
certain properties; a statement from the U.S. Treasury Department to Henry
Hodges about the condition of Hodges's accounts as Quartermaster during and
following the Civil War; and Civil War letter from a friend of William
Abernethy in the army of General [William Stark] Rosecrans, Sept. 5, 1863, from
the Tennessee River, providing details of the campaign.
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Letterpress copybook of
George Abernethy, 1847-1850
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Series B:
Abernethy family papers, Mss 929-1, 1833-1905
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Container(s)
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Description
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Abernethy & Herr business papers, 1850-1865
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George Abernethy papers
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Orders for merchandise, bills, 1870, 1874
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Business correspondence and bills, 1871-1873
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Deeds, land transactions, 1844-1868
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Land records, general, 1864-1873
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Promissory notes and tax receipts, 1852-1872
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John McLoughlin to J. Quinn Thornton: quitclaim deed
to Oregon City lots, 1850
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J. Quinn Thornton correspondence, 1865, 1867
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William Abernethy: Land records, business
correspondence, 1858-1897
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Ephemera and general papers, ca. 1860-1905
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Includes: pages on Coos County, Oregon, from
Lewis and Dryden's Railway
Guide; sonnet by Herbert H. Arnston to Daisy Abernethy, 1905; and
lyrics to a music hall song,
I'd choose to be a baby! sung by
Joe Murphy at the American Theater, San Francisco, ca.1860.
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Oversize materials, 1833-1889
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Contains: certificate for George Abernethy as a member of
the New York State Artillery, 1833; land patent to George and Ann Abernethy in
Clackamas County, 1873, signed by President U.S. Grant; chart of the entrance
to the Columbia River, 1878; plat of Rosedale Addition to Astoria, Oregon,
ca.1889.
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