"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. p. 398.
 
JONATHAN MOAR

     The Land of the Thistle has produced no more sturdy representative than is
to be found in Mr. Moar, and a short account of his life may be perused with
interest.  Born in 1829, his early life was spent in his native land, and when
fifteen years of age he was apprenticed to the Hudson Bay Company to learn the
blacksmith's trade, remaining with the company for five years as a journeyman.
In 1850, still in the employ of that company, he crossed the plains to
Vancouver, Wash., but after five months' residence there he changed his location
and line of employment, going to the gold fields of California and engaging in
prospecting and mining for eight months. Subsequently he engaged in fitting up
pack trains for the miners and found this a remunerative occupation, but was
compelled to cease operations in this line on account of the Indian outbreak
against the whites. Enlisting as a volunteer in the defense of the latter, he
did valiant service in their behalf in the Rogue river war in 1853.
     Subsequently Mr. Moar came to Multnomah county and settled on Sauvie's
Island, and with its interests he has since been identified. Here he was united
in marriage with Mrs. Isabella Loggie, the widow of James Loggie, both of whom
were natives of Scotland. In many respects Mrs. Moar had a busy and interesting
life. In 1841 she came to this country with her first husband, settling in
Multnomah county, and was the first white woman to settle in this section. In
the early days she endeared herself in the hearts of the Indians by her many
acts of kindness and also by ministering to them in times of sickness. At one
time Indian measles broke out in their community and she gave her services
gratis and unstintingly, doing all in her power for their relief. So grateful
were her tawny neighbors that they relieved her of her household duties on every
occasion possible. Indeed, so valuable were her services that she was engaged as
assistant to Dr. Bartley, who was stationed there by the Hudson Bay Company
to minister to the physical ailments of the Indians. Mr. Loggie was employed by
the company as overseer of the island and here he took up a donation claim of
six hundred and forty acres, which is now incorporated in Mr. Moar's homestead.
     Mr. and Mrs. Moar became the parents of six children, of whom we make the
following mention : James is deceased; Thomas resides on Sauvie's Island; Ann
became the wife of Charles Wilson, a lumberman of Aberdeen, Wash.; Jonathan,
Jr., carries on a general stock and dairy business on the old homestead, where
his birth occurred; Belle became the wife of Richard Clemens, and they also make
their home on Sauvie's Island; Mary died in infancy. After a comparatively short
life Mrs. Moar passed to her reward in 1871, when only forty-eight years old.
Her life had been one of good deeds and her works do follow her, for among the
Indian, she scattered seeds of her faith which bore fruit in their lives. She
was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church and assisted materially in its
maintenance. By his second marriage, which united him with Nannie Fox, Mr. Moar
had three children, Jemima, Ida and one who died in infancy. Besides assisting
his son in the conduct of the farm he is interested in blacksmithing to some
extent, having a shop on his ranch. His community has had the benefit of his
support and judgment for many years, and this has been especially true of his-
services in the capacities of school clerk and director.


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2009 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.