Oregon Historical Society, Research
Library
Mss 929
Abernethy, George, 1807-1877
George Abernethy Papers
1833-1905
0.6 cubic feet
2 document boxes 1 oversize
folder
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.
The collection is in
English
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.
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.
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
The collection is open to the public.
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.
Selected papers available on microfilm at the Oregon Historical
Society Research Library
George Abernethy Papers, 1836-1897, Mss 929, Oregon Historical Society
Research Library
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
Daguerreotype of George Abernethy & Co. store, Oregon City, ca.
1855, transferred to the Cased Images Collection, Oregon Historical Society
Research Library
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.
Abernethy,
George, 1807-1877--Archives
Abernethy,
William--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
Abernethy
& Herr
Hudson's
Bay Company
Methodist
Episcopal Church--Missions--Oregon
Canada--Boundaries--United States
Oregon--History--To 1859
Oregon--Politics and government--To 1859
Oregon City
(Or.)--History
United
States--Boundaries--Canada
Cayuse
Indians--Wars
Governors--Oregon--Correspondence
Indians of North
America--Oregon--Wars
Indians of North
America--Oregon--Government relations
Pacific Coast Indians, Wars
with, 1847-1865
Whitman Massacre,
1847
Oregon
Portland
City and Town Life
Government and Politics
Missionaries
Native Americans
Pacific Northwest History
Pioneers
Business
records
Letters
Maps
Governors
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Series A
General papers, Mss 929
1834-1897
1/1-2
Legal documents and
ephemera
1834-1881
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.
Correspondence
1/3
General
1844
Contains the following letters:
- Vernon, George. Notification of Abernethy's election
as mayor.
1844 January 1
- McCloughlin, John. Concerns a woman imprisoned for
wrongdoing.
1844 February 1
- Lee, Jason. Mission finances; Ladd & Co. (original
and copy).
1844 March 21
1/4
General
January-October 1846
Contains the following letters:
- McClure, John. Repair of the Peacock launch; John McLoughlin.
1846 February 7
- McClure, John. Peacock
launch.
1846 August 13
- Tibbets, C. Fracas between settlers and Clatsop
Indians.
1846 August 19
- Howison, Neil M. Sale of Peacock launch.
1846 August 14
- Howison, Neil M. Sale of Peacock launch.
1846 August 15
- Howison, Neil M. Sale of Peacock launch.
1846 September 10
- Howison, Neil M. Deserters.
1846 September 11
- Howison, Neil M. Wreck of the Shark.
1846 October 6
- Roberts. Shipment of millstones and other articles.
1846 October 7
- Howison, Neil M.
1846 October 23
- Howison, Neil M. Oregon boundary settlement; war with
Mexico.
1846 October 28
1/5
General
November-December 1846
Contains the following letters:
- Douglas, James. Oregon boundary, with enclosure
containing a copy of a letter from A. Forbes to Sir George Seymour.
1846 November 2
- Howison, Neil M.
1846 November 11
- Howison, Neil M. Deserters; Hudson's Bay Co.
1846 November 25
- Howison, Neil M. First U.S. flag in Oregon; murder of
an Indian woman.
1846 December 1
- Burnett, Peter H. Letter of resignations Supreme Court
Judge.
1846 December 29
1/6
General
1847
Contains the following letters:
- Howison, Neil M.
1847 January 10
- Howison, Neil M. Mexican War news.
1847 February 9
- Howison, Neil M. Oregon boundary and Hudson's Bay Co.;
government in California and Oregon
1847 February 19
- Brown, John. Thank you note and request for help in
securing employment.
1847 April 15
- Gary, George. Details of his passage down the Columbia
River.
1847 July 30
- Tolmie, William Fraser. Harvest; roads; temperance
elections.
1847 August 21
- Douglas, James. Whitman Massacre and military actions
taken; with enclosure of copy of letter from William McBean to the Board of
Management, November 30, 1847, regarding Whitman Massacre.
1847 December 7
- Lee, H. A. G. Whitman Massacre; Indian war council at
The Dalles.
1847 December 16
- Lee, H. A. G. Wascopam; First Company of Oregon
Riflemen
1847 December 26
- Folsom, J. L. Request for report on Oregon coal
resources, needed for steamers.
1847 December 27
- Douglas, James. Proposed levy on Hudson's Bay Co.
(original and copy).
1847 December 31
1/7
Cayuse War
January 1848
Contains the following letters:
- Douglas, James. Hudson's Bay Co. payments to Indians
of ammunition (original and copy).
1848 January 4
- Lee, H. A. G. Non-arrival of reinforcements; skirmish
with Indians.
1848 January 20
- Gilliam, Col. Cornelius. Plan to raid Indian camp on
Deschutes River for livestock.
1848 January 25
- Major, R. Request and plan to raise a volunteer
infantry battalion to assist in Mexican War.
1848 January 28
1/8
General
February 1848
Contains the following letters:
- Lee, H. A. G. Indian and military policy; Leletsa, a
friendly Indian.
1848 February 8
- Lee, H. A. G. Military tactics; battle at Meek's
Crossing.
1848 February 8
- Ogden, Peter Skene. Cayuse Ear.
1848 February 29
- Gilliam, Col. Cornelius. Battle near Umatilla River.
1848 February 29
- William, Capt. William. Report on fort's condition;
suspicion of imminent attack.
1848 February 29
1/9
Cayuse War
March-April 1848
Contains the following letters:
- Penning, John. Mr. Curry; morality and Oregonians.
1848 March 2
- Gilliam, Col. Cornelius. Request for more men.
1848 March 10
- Applegate, Jesse. Settler-Indian conflicts.
1848 March 12
- Douglas, James. 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.
1848 March 15
- Applegate, Jesse. Scpt. Scott; immigrants.
1848 March 20
- Ogden, Peter Skene.
1848 March 21
- Palmer, Joel. Resignation as Superintendent of Indian
Affairs.
1848 March 28
- English, S. Reports that the enemy is scattered.
1848 March 28
- [Name illegible]. Complaints of officers' lack of
action.
1848 April 4
- Hardie, J. Military supplies.
1848 April 12
- Lee, H. A. G. Military organization.
1848 April 17
- English, S. Raising men near the Umpqua.
1848 April 24
- Blanchet, Augustin Magloire Alexandre, Bishop of Walla
Walla. Missionary work and philosophy (original and translation).
1848 April 29
1/10
Cayuse War
May-December 1848
Contains the following letters:
- Lee, H. A. G. Council with Indians.
1848 May 5
- Jones, Ap. C. Letter to G. E. Pickett: inability to
send ships due to Mexican War; copy sent to G. Abernathy.
1848 May 24
- Palmer, Joel. Financial difficulty in supplying the
army.
1848 June 4
- Eyck, A. Ten. 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.
1848 June 11
- Ogden, Peter Skene.
1848 June 5
- Palmer, Joel. Suggests discharge of the men, who are
restless.
1848 June 19
- Lee, H. A. G. Conerns misunderstanding over his
temporary post of Lt. Col.
1848 June 24
- Rodgers, Alexander T. Complaint of a priest's causing
a disturbance with Indians.
1848 July 9
- Hardie, James A. Gold rush, Sacramento River, Calif.
1848 July 10
- Palmer, Joel. Board of Loan Commissioners' refusal to
supply troops.
1848 July 12
- Burnett, L. Acknowledging receipt of Abernathy's
letter.
1848 August 9
- Rodgers, Alexander T. Asks directions concerning
boatload of guns and ammunition consigned to French priests.
1848 August 21
- U.S. House of Representatives. Disposition of arms and
ammunition seized at Wascopam.
undated
1/11
General
1849-1850
Contains the following letters:
- U.S. House of Representatives. Land claim.
1849 July 12
- Prichette, K. Meeting with Cayuse cheifs for surrender
of murderers.
1850 March 26
- Morris, George. Personal.
October 12 1850
- Morris, George. Personal.
undated
1/12
General
1851-1897
Contains the following letters:
- Herr, Michael. Personal.
1851 January 5
- Herr, Michael. Concerns his Oregon property.
1851 August 26
- Stanley. Placement of the gallery in the Smithsonian.
1851 December 31
- Spalding, Henry H. Solicits testimony with regard to
mission claims accruing from Cayuse War.
1852 April 27
- Hall, Margaret M. Asks news of her brother, Theodore
Chambers.
1852 February 4
- Holbrook, Henry. Political gossip about Democrats,
Whigs, Oregon Legislature.
1853 December 20
- U.S. Treasury Department. Encloses form of power of
attorney for receiving money awarded to Hiram clark in Cayuse War claim.
1854 April 22
- Gurnett, Lesley. Personal.
1855 March 15
- Gibbs. Military road survey; territorial election.
1856 July 31
- Hodges, Henry. Intention to marry Abernathy's
daughter, Anne, and giving character references.
1858 December 30
- Holbrook, H. Attempts to secure an appointment for
Abernethy and compensation for services as Governor during Cayuse War.
1861 June 8
- Neyce. Order for lumber.
1862 October 2
- Clay, J. Personal.
1868 July 2
- Hodges, Henry. Personal.
1875 September 27
- Thurston, Samuel R. Order for foodstuffs.
1880 December 10
- Johnson, Josephine D. Requests historical data on the
Baptist Church.
1897 July 8
1/13
Letters from George Abernethy
1846-1877
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.
1/14
Brig
Henry Association
papers
1850-1852
Includes land deeds and letters from the Association's agent in
Massachusetts to its agent in Oregon.
1/15-16
Business records,
general
1848-1872
Includes ledger sheets, probably listing gold received from
various persons for purposes of refining, with location of mines.
1/17
William Abernethy
papers
1863-1894
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.
1/18
Letterpress copybook of George
Abernethy
1847-1850
Series B
Abernethy family papers, Mss 929-1
1833-1905
2/1
Abernethy & Herr business papers
1850-1865
George Abernethy papers
2/2
Orders for merchandise, bills
1870
1874
2/3-4
Business correspondence and bills
1871-1873
2/5
Deeds, land transactions
1844-1868
2/6
Land records, general
1864-1873
2/7
Promissory notes and tax receipts
1852-1872
2/8
John McLoughlin to J. Quinn Thornton: quitclaim deed to
Oregon City lots
1850
2/9
J. Quinn Thornton correspondence
1865
1867
2/10
William Abernethy: Land records, business
correspondence
1858-1897
2/11
Ephemera and general papers
ca. 1860-1905
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.
Oversize folder
Oversize materials
1833-1889
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.