Northern Pacific Railroad Company collection, 1872

The Northern Pacific Railroad Company collection (1872 and 1877)consists of a land development certificate and two applications to purchase land. These documents record the efforts of Robert G. Thompson (1837-1894) to claim un-appraised railroad lands in the newly opened lands from the Northern Pacific in May, 1872 in Section 31 near present day Kalama River Rd. and Meeker Dr. With Jay Cooke's backing, and the efforts of John Sprague (1817-1894), the Northern Pacific began building their route from Kalama, Washington Territory to New Tacoma (Tacoma), W.T. in 1871, opening up every other plot along the rail line. The first document notes that Thompson was committing to purchasing and improving the land at the valuation of the company when it would become ready for sale. Finally in March, 1877, Thompson applied to purchase the land, and was notified by Sprague that his application had been received, that the Northern Pacific was only obtaining full title to the lands as fast as successive 25-mile sections of railroad were completed, and the other plots were held by the government for Homesteading. In addition, timber could not be cut until the purchase was complete. Unfortunately for Thompson, Sprague also makes a manuscript note declaring that C.[harles] D. Jewell (b. 1840), a gold miner and logger, had already applied to purchase the filed-upon railroad land. The third document indicates that in Sept. 1877, Thompson applies for another nearby plot of land with the same stipulations on not cutting timber. According to census records, and other contemporary state and territorial records, Thompson who was an overland pioneer from Missouri to the Oregon Territory in 1853, fought in the Rogue River Indian Wars from 1855-56, and settled in Umatilla County for the remainder of his life, never taking up farming operations on lands near Kalama at the terminus of the Northern Pacific. Sprague served as a Union General during the Civil War, received the Medal of Honor for actions at the Battle of Decatur during the Atlanta campaign with General Sherman, and later as the General Manager of the Western Division of the Northern Pacific was a co-founder of the city of Tacoma (New Tacoma).