| Title: | George Bell, Oregon to James Bell, Ohio. |
|---|---|
| ID | 160 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Bell, George W/37 |
| Year | 1847 |
| Sender | Bell, George W. |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | store keeper |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Oregon, USA |
| Destination | Ohio, USA |
| Recipient | Bell, James |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | brothers |
| Source | T 3659/2: Deposited by Mrs M. R. Hawken. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, Northern Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9405079 |
| Date | 06/10/1847 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Document added by LT, 03:05:1994. |
| Word Count | 2677 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: Mr James Bell Millersburgh [Millersburg?] Holmes County Ohio U.S.A. From: George W. Bell Oregon City Oregon Territory October 6th 1847 Dear Brother I am happy to acknowledge the recept [receipt?] of your kind favour of 1st April last also that of sister Jane J. Miller of 12 march the perusal of which afforded myself & Family much gratification - Though clad in mourning for the loss of our worthy sister Eliza Bingham, they ware [were?] messengers of joy as well as grief, for why is there not even pleasure in mourning for one departing so calmly leaving all behind in peace, with the prospect of a fine felicity at the end of her journey to the tomb as that displayed by her whose absence we are now called to lament - we are happy indeed to hear of the wellfare [welfare?] and good prosperity of our relatives in Ohio - I wrote you last spring by the Backers Overland - since which time nothing of note has occurred in my family other than we have an addition of a son now about 6 weeks old a hearty fine boy. Eugene Shepard his mother has excellent health - the people of this valley have been remarkably healthy the past sommer [summer?] in fact the Country is healthy at all times. During my resid [residency?] at this place of 15 months last passed a village of some 5 or 600 Inhabitants - there has been but one death from disease, that a child. Two by accident being adults - a poor country this for Doctors Some of them turn out farmers some mechanics others Teachers. I know of no one who is wholly is wholly [sic] sustained by his practice except one attached to the Hudsons [Hudson?] Bay Company at Vancouver - This village is the most healthy neighbourhood in which I have ever resided - our crops in wheat has been light this season - Potatoes and other vegetables are tolerably abundant - wheat is light in consequence of late sowing an [and?] dry weather in April & May - The longer I remain in the more I become reconciled to the Country - the immigrants of last year are generally well satisfied though they ware [were?] not upon their arrival in the Country - There are from 7 to 800 wagons of immigrants from the States this year exclusive of several hundred mormon wagons which are stopping at the great Salt Lake in the Bear River Valley in N.E. [North East?] California Some 3 to 400 of the 800 for this valley have already got in to [into?] the Settlements - all will get in to [into?] comfortable winter quarters: many of them ar [are?] much dissatisfied with the Rough appearance of the Country - The mormons we understand are destined for upper California about the Bay of Monterrey [Monterey?] and San Francisco, There are already some mormons in that vicinity - where they will no doubt once more rally around the Standard of their delusion and pay penance in the degradation of their moral & social Comunity [Community?] - by following the example of their prophets lustfull [lustful?] prostitution and in dropping the sweat of their Brows over the corner store of another monument of their Strange folly - The whites here at the present time are on the most friendly terms with the indians in this vicinity. An altercation however took place a short time ago between some immigrants and a party of Indians at the Dales of the Columbia in the immediate vicinity of the Methodist mission at the eastern Base of the Cascade mountains in which one American was killed & two wounded. One Indian Chief killed and two or 3 privates wounded but a peace has since been concluded with this tribe of Indians. they are known by the name of the Dales or wascopum Tribe. a portion of the Wallowallah [Wallawalla?] Inds [Indians?] In the vicinity of many of the missions amongst the Indians you find portions of them much more troublesome than elsewhere the above uncountre [encounter?] was brought on by a robery [robbery?] having been perpetuated by the Indians on the whites - These Indians have been under the religious tuition of the methodist Church for some years past last - and many of them profess Christianity - adopting in some degree the forms of that Church yet still they lack the cultivation of the moral principal of civilization so necessary to the carrying out or even understanding the effects - that the Church would impress upon them as a community or on their minds respectfully as individuals - we find the Indian in a more civilized state in the vicinity of the trading establishments where they have been entirely free from religious teaching - This goes to establish the doctrine in my mind that in order to improve the moral condition of the savage you must first teach him the principal of civilized life, before you enisciate [initiate?] him in the tenets of church doctrine or the forms an [and?] ceremonies of the Christian religion - For instance the Indian in your employ under Solemn Contract and who has all the forms of a consistent church member - has no idea of the moral obligation of a contract or of acting honestly with regard to property - he will get up from prayers and steal your horse or other property and apply it to his own use - in fact a religious savage becomes a devil instead of a Christian - he must be taught the habits and doctrines of civilized life and then he will be able to reconcile with these principles the peculiarities of various church doctrines and live and practice both of them consistent with the usages and customs of civilized society - The mechanic the farmer the merchant and common school teacher ought to preceed [precede?] the clergyman in all attempts to better the Condition of the savage in my point of view - This doctrine you will not believe - but the pen of the future historian will be employed in confirmation of this position In this vicinity we are well supplied with missionaries of the various missions established in older Settled portions of the world. There are several Catholic establishments One Nunnery attached to their mission at the Station at the Willamette River south of this place some with 10 to 15 Nuns - they have a fine building in this City for their services - The M.E. [Methodist Episcopal?] Church has also a comfortable house at this place, The members of this Church are probably the most numerous of any now in Oregon Next in point of numbers is the Christian Baptists - Alias Campbellites and next come the Catholics who are pretty numerous almost all the foreigners in Oregon are Catholicks [Catholics?], all the persons attached to the Hudsons [Hudson?] Bay Company, Whether Scotch English Aboriginees [Aborigines?] or in half Bloods belong to that sect - we have Catholic priests Holy fathers nunns [nuns?], and Laymen, from Sweden, & France a School is taught by the holy sisters at their Station. Schools of a respectable character are numerous Throuought [Throughout?] the valley. 3 Common private Schools are sustained in this City and one in the immediate vicinity. A very respectable School is kept by the methodist association at the Methodist Institute 60 miles South of the point - So although we are off here towards Sundown. There is an opportunity for intellectual and Religious Culture for all who feel enclined [inclined?] that way - It may Sir be interesting to you to know that all of the clerks factors and other white persons in the employ of the Hudsons [Hudson?] Bay Company in Oregon have Indian Wives Some however have half Bloods - many of these Indian women ware [were?] brought from the Red River County. On the N [North?] of the western United States - These factors and clerks mostly have large families of half Blood Children thus forming rather a novel Society in Appearance. That is with the people of this Company as they form a society and almost a nation amongst themselves of every possible shade of Complexion - however the pale face of the Anglo Saxon will in a few years lessen the prominence of that feature in our Society - Of Politics we have but little unless in a local point of view the interests of Americans opposing the practice and interests of the Hudsons [Hudson?] Bay Company, During the negotiations pending the Settlement of the Oregon question their views and interests in that matter appeared to conflict with that of the Americans. And the Austere and Autocratic manner in which the Business of the concern is conducted with regard to its customers goes far in keeping with the feelings of partisans - A large portion of trade of the Country is done by the Hudsons [Hudson?] Bay Company but a small amount of capital is invested yet by American Merchants - And what is not sufficent [sufficient?] to create any competition Consequently what Yankee Merchants we have are Content to go hand in hand with the Company Consequently the former high prices for Goods is fully maintained - namely Coffee 25 to 33 Teas Blk [Bulk?] 1" c 125 Green do 125 to 175 pr [per?] lb Noe'ls [Noel's?] 20 to 25 Thick or Cowhide Boots 5 to 7$ Stout-Brogans 3 to 5$ Kipp 3 to 4.50 Calf 3.50 to 5$ Simmons and Collins Chopping Axes 4 to 5$ 36 in Bio Domestic 20 to 28 cts [cents?] Bio Drills 20 to 25 Blue 25 to 33 a 37 mens mix Sommer [Summer?] Cottons 40 to 60 cents - Mens Mac Blue Pants 30 to 37 inferior fancy pts [pants?] 20 to 30 Midling [Middling?] 30 to 37 cts [cents?] - inferior eastern Jeans termed K.G. Jeans 87 to 125 - No Midling [Middling?] or good quality in Market - Manufactured tobacco from 40 to 1.00 &c. This is a sample of retail prices in Oregon at the present time in the various Kinds of pay recived [received?] for them which is comprised of specie. Wheat at 80 to 100 cts [cents?] pr [per?] Bushel Potatoes 50 cts [cents?] hides at 2$ each Beef at 2 1/2 & 3 cts [cents?] pr [per?] lb Pork 8 cs [cents?] Butter 20 cents - Cheese 15 to 18 cts [cents?] Lumber 15 to 25$ pr [per?] ton. An apparent improvement has occurred in the appearance of our Commerce during the Sommer [Summer?] as sufficient vessels have been in the Columbia to ship all the produce that that [sic] was offered for Export during the season Salmon is worth 8$ pr [per?] lb for export the Columbia Salmon is probably equal to any in the world in quality and can be taken in great abundance at various places on the Rivers they will soon form a very considerable article of export - as well as home consumption - the facilities for manufacturing Lumber are immense and an inexhaustable supply can be had from the Bank of the Columbia the Willamette and Puget Sound. The scenery in every portion of this Country is of that rugged though romantic nature, that at once impresses the mind with the sublimity of natures grandest scale. Oregon although her farming districts are comparitively [comparatively?] small is destined ere [before?] long to be densely populated notwithstanding the many dangers and difficulties that emigrants undergo in making the journey thither they continue to come year by year in Thousands generally seeking homes more healthy than those they have left in the Mississippi Valley. James Morgans 3 Sons from Skunk River Iowa have arrived in Good health. John Harrison & family ar [are?] in good health and - suited with the Country. Wm [William?] A. Hutchinson has gone by sea to California. Oregon at no distant day will be a famous wool growing County Sheep do remarkably well. Some hundreds of them have been drove from the States this season, they bear driving remarkably well and are worth now for good American Blood about 10$ pr [per?] head in cash. Should my time permit I may send you a transcript of a Diary kept by me on our journey from Iowa to this County should I do so it will give you some idea of the manner in which an emigrating party make their way to this Valley. I have many friends that I should be happy to see in Oregon but knowing the difficulties that emigrants are sometimes subject to in accomplishing the journey I will not take responsibility of advising any of them who are Comfortably Situated to sell out and make the journey though ware [were?] they here and settled they would do well. We are happy to hear of the victorious march of our Army through the Territory of and near to the City of Mexico and hope the war may be brought speedily to a close giving to the United States, California and the Country East of the Rio Delwest [Dell West?] - No doubt the U.S. [United States?] had just cause of war with Mexico as a Civilized Nation - for she does not merrit [merit?] the appelation [appellation?] - and Priest-ridden as she is by the Catholic Church that dark shade to Civilizations, she will not very soon even merit - the name of a Republic - The War - no doubt will prove a blessing to the mass of the population of Mexico - the acquisition of California by the United States will be of vast importance to Oregon its settlement - by a civilized race of men will open to some extent - a market for our Lumber and some other articles of our production. If I am correctly informed there are about 8 wagons loaded with merchandise amongst the emigrants of this year, principally dry Goods they ware [were?] purchased in Saint Louis & shipped on wagons at Independence was for this market - a small lot of Dry Goods has also been brought on Pack Animals from Independence: On all of which the parties concerned I have no doubt from present prices will do well. This town is improving as rapidly as could be expected under the circumstances of the County being the unsettled State of claims to and titles of lands and the enormous prices that the people are under the necessity of paying for hardware trimming for buildings. Glass has heretofore and I think is now selling for about 20$ pr [per?] Box of 100 feet say of 8 by 10 to 10 by 12 inch. Though prices Cannot long remain so high - We have at this place 2 Flouring Mills and 3 Saw Mills on the E [East?] Side of the falls of the Willamette - (The Whole river falls about 30 feet Perpendicular) other Mills will be erected on the West Bank during the coming Seasons. Amongst all the hands employed in and about the Business of these Mills I know of no case of sickness of any kind during the past Sommer [Summer?]. I state this because I consider it a remarkable indication of the healthfulness of the Climate. I fancy that no village on the Continent affords more flattering prosperity of healthfulness. Some few cases of ague have occurred on the River bottom in the vicinity of inundated and marshy lands also one case of fever has Occurred to my knowledge at Portland. I am informed that the immigrants of this season who are unhealthy in the back companies with Camp fever brought on by exposure, warts, and the effects of the pernicious influence of the dust of the road through the Mountains which in many places is impregnated with substances injurious to health. Should you ever come to this County bring some useful school Books for your own use, they are remarkably scarce an [and?] very high in price. With my Love to Mother as also to you all I am Sir with proper feelings of Regard Your Brother, G. [George?] W. Bell. Mr James J. Bell. |
