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Show THE OCCUPATION OF OREGON Released through courtesy of the Utah 'Historical Landmarks Asociation. The "Oregon Country" was a land of abscurity and mystery for many years after the settlement of eastern United States. The original area of this great unknown country, as large as the thirteen original colonies, comprised com-prised more than a quarter of a million mil-lion square miles and was later divided divi-ded Into three great states, Washington, Washing-ton, Idaho and Oregon and a part of two others, Wyoming and Montana "Orego Territory", is unique in our history in that it was the only United States territory ever acquired through priorjty of discovery, exploration and settlement; also our only acquisition secured without bloodshed or money. Incidentally, the timber we acquired in the "Oregon Territory" would make a plank one hundred feed wide, one foot thick and two hundred fifty thousand thou-sand miles long. Sir Francis Drake named the Oregon Ore-gon coast "New Albion" as early as 1579; it was reached by Juan Perez, a Spaniard, in 1775, and by Captain James Cook, an Englishman, In 1778. Oregon was first explored by white men from the sea by Captain Robert Gray, who anchored in Gray's Harbor Har-bor in 1792. Lewis and Clark made the first exploration by land in 1804 and 1805 The Hudson's Bay Company Com-pany combined with the Northwest Fur Company in 1821 and until 1843 there was a general recognition of the authority of that company in this region. re-gion. In 1S32 some enthusiastic Americans established a provisional government. British and Canadians entered the "Oregon Country" In the rols of trappers trap-pers and traders, while the American emigrants entered as .colonists. From (Continued on page 4.) THE OCCUPATION OF OREGON (Continued from first page) 1843 to 11810 Oregon was a "Diplomatic "Diplo-matic Negotiations" territory, into which thousands of emigrants swarmed swarm-ed over the Oregon Trail through Wyoming and Idaho. The provisional government established by the Americans Ameri-cans existed from 1843 to 1840; a territorial ter-ritorial government prevailed from 1819 to 1SD9, when it was admitted to the Union. The most important trading post in the Oregon country wag the one at Vancouver, presided over by Chief Factor Dr. John McLoughlln. Under his guidance the "Oregon Country" became the most profitable territory of the Hudson's Baiy .Company. To this post came Jedediah Smith, Nathaniel Na-thaniel Wyeth, Marcus Whitman, John G. Fremont and many others. Dr. M'c-Loughlin M'c-Loughlin saw the possibilities of agriculture ag-riculture in the "Oregon. Country" and his friendliness to the Americans brought censure from' his English company. com-pany. Peter Skene Ogden, his right hand man, remained a true Britisher to the last ; McLoughlln spent his last daj's as an American citizen and is buried at Oregon City. Reverend Pierre-Jean DeSmet of the Society of Jesus not only traveled extensively ex-tensively in the "Oregon Country" at an early date, but also left excellent records of his journeys. In appearance appear-ance Father DeSmet was a man of unusual un-usual attractiveness, with natural buoyancy and abundant good humor. As a young man he was noted for his agility and strength, qualities which fitted him for ardous travel in the wilderness. A Belgian by birth, he emigrated to America in 1821, completed com-pleted his formal education and immediately im-mediately engaged lu missionary work. With St. Louis as his headquarters he covered a large part of Wyoming, Montana, Mon-tana, Idaho, Oregon and' Washington. Brigham Young consulted him on the character of the country In Utah. In 1851 he wrote an account of Utah aud Great Salt Lake and also visited the state during his later years. Father Fa-ther DeSmet carried on recorded exploration ex-ploration work for more than three decades. His general attitude was conciliatory and for much of our information in-formation we are indebted to this intrepid, in-trepid, painstaking traveler. The names of those who directed early fur trading organizations have passed into oblivion with fhe exception excep-tion of that of John Jacob Astor. Astor was a native of Waldorf, a small village vil-lage near Heidelberg, German'. He resided in London temporarily, where he was associated with his brother in merchandising muslctfl instruments. A piano owned by Jacob Astor and valued valu-ed at ten thousand dollars was a feature fea-ture at the unveiling of the Astor Monument at Astoria in 1927.' ;' In 1783 he set out for America with' seven flutes and twenty-five dollars; Inside of six years, Astor increased the twenty-five to two hundred flftv thouand, an immense sum in those days. His entrance into the fur business busi-ness was accidental. One of his shipmates ship-mates across the Atlantic was a fur trader and during an enforced stay in Chesepeake Bay, Astor became "sold" on the profits and advantages of the fur industry. He hired out to a Quaker fur trader for two' dollars a week and board, beating and preparing pre-paring furs. He put in all his spare time learning everything possible about Indians, trappers and dealers. With trinkets and gewgaws of his back, he tramped the woodland trails of western wes-tern and northern New York, visiting the camps of Indians, studying their languages and delving into the wavs miles northwest of Pocatello, through Fort Uintah in northeastern Utah, and Fort Uncompahgre, south of Montrase, in Colorado. This trip is unparalleled in history for continuous endurance. Whitman established a mission at Waiilatpu in 1S42. Discontent arose among the Indians in 1840 which continued con-tinued until November 29, 1847, when Dr. Whitman, his wife and some others were massacred by the Indians. Miss Mary Bridger, daughter of James Brldger, was later ransomed through the efforts of Peter Skene Ogden; Helen Marr Meek, daughter of Joseph L. Meek, died two days after the massacre. mas-sacre. Whatman's name is principally principal-ly commemorated through Whitman College. Article, "The Mormon Migration" to follow: of the wilderness and the fur bearin" inhabitants. In 1808 -Astor had be-come be-come a National figure; Jefferson consulted, con-sulted, him on the expansion of our commercial interests in the west. In 1-810 Astor sent out the ill-fated Ton-quin. Ton-quin. He founded Fort Astor at Astoria, As-toria, which later became Fort George The war of 1812 disturbed conditions and Astor relinquished his interest in the ''Oregon Country." Astor was not lacking in imagination nor ideals AVhen lie died in 1S4S, he left an estate of thirty million dollars and founded a great American familly. Reverend Marcus Whitman was religious re-ligious by nature and toop n medical course through necessity. He practiced practi-ced medicine in Canada for four years fLM rece,ved lln aPPlntment fiom the American Board of Commissioners Com-missioners for Foreign Missions to carry car-ry on work for that organization. Iu plY0rTny With Rewend Samuel Sam-uel Parker, he traveled as far west as Green River but turned back, ostensibly osten-sibly for the purpose of securing funds recruits and supplies, although some accounts state that it was on accmZ of difficulties with Reverend Parker who found him an intolerable traveling travel-ing companion. Pientbs. Immediately he started west II rJP mS and wlfe and William I'nemo Umrker' tW0 miIcs above South Pl nn the Wost s,0Pe of South Pass, Wyoming, Indicates the inl ,1. ' Mrs- Whitman and Mrs Spauldlng were the first white womon LT South Pass and JIft's " "an was the first white man to take a wagon across the Rocky Mountains n entT !hr,aUpmPt the " nent with wagons, commemorated this ear, ended in the Wind River Moun oaVe'L18;:- Whit -asspSl ro sae the "Oregon Country" for the United States. To do this he made a Journey from 0,-egon to Washington C. in the winter of 1842-43 jr Passed through Old Fort Hall, twelve |