Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 413. JAMES TERWILLIGER one of the most public-spirited and energetic citizens of Portland, arrived here in the early pioneer days of 1845, and resides on his original farm, which has now been taken into the limits of the widespread city, and for which, forty-six years ago, he exchanged a horse. He is a native of Ulster county, New York, where he was born on October 3, 1809. His father, Cornelius Terwilliger, was a native of the same county. Mr. Terwilliger's ancestors came from Holland, and were the first settlers of Amsterdam. They were a hardy, long-lived race, some of them living to be 100 years of age. His grandmother Terwilliger attained to the patriarchal age of 102 years. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and his father served in the war of 1812. The latter married Miss Ann Cadecker, a native of New York. They had nine children, including three pairs of twins, each a son and daughter. Three of the family are still living. Mr. James Terwilliger, the second-born, and subject of this sketch, was raised in his native State, New York, and learned the blacksmiths' trade. He worked for a time as a journeyman, having his first shop in Towanda, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, in 1832. A few years later, he sold out and returned to New York, resuming business at Ithaca, where he remained for a year, when he removed six miles into the country, residing there a year. In 1839 he moved to Ohio, where he farmed for a while. Later he moved to Illinois, remaining there four years. He had a shop in each of these places, and relates his experience in Ohio as being one of great difficulty to get money, there being none there at that time. There was, however, plenty of corn, in which product he took pay for his work. Then, as there was no sale for the corn, he bargained with Daniel S. Morton to furnish the barrels, and he and Mr. Strockman distilled it on shares, keeping three gallons and giving Mr. Terwilliger two. The whisky sold for only fourteen cents a gallon, yet even at that, he relates, that he did a good year's work. In 1840 he voted for William H. Harrison for President. After election, he went to Illinois, where he remained until 1845. In the meanwhile he worked for a short time at Kalamazoo, Michigan. In Illinois he had a farm and shop, but he and his neighbors, the Mormons, did not agree very well, so they bought him out, and he started overland for Oregon, with five yoke of oxen, two wagons and thirteen cows. One hundred wagons in all started for St. Joseph, Missouri, with Sam Parker for captain. Later, John Stewart was in command. Subsequently, thirteen wagons separated from the rest, proceeding by themselves. They all enjoyed good health until reaching tills side of Fort Boise, where they took the Meek route, from there on suffering considerable with a sickness called camp fever, from the effects of which several of the company died. When they arrived at the upper cascades, Mrs. Terwilliger died. Her maiden name was Sophronia Ann Hurd; they were married in 1833, in Tompkins county, New York. Mr. Terwilliger had five children by his first wife: Lorenzo, the oldest, was killed by the Indians, in 1851, on Rogue river, Oregon, aged twenty-two years; John, the second in order of birth, who, from a severe attack of quinsy, died in California, in 1849, aged about seventeen years; Asa, who died in Ohio when three years old; Hiram, now living in Portland, Oregon, with which city's interests he is largely identified; Charlotte A. who married Walter Moffit, of Portland, now deceased; she is now the wife of Hon. Charles Cartwright, whose interests are largely in eastern Oregon, but who has also a residence in Portland. On arriving on the present site of the populous city of Portland, they saw nothing but a barren waste. He and Mr. James Knox took up donation claims on the east side, Mr. Terwilliger and his children being accorded the privilege of remaining at Mr. Knox's home. Mr. Terwilliger had succeeded in bringing his stock through alive, and he at once began farming on his claim. On Christmas day he went to Oregon City, buying from Frank Pettygrove a lot in Portland, on First and Morrison streets, which he still retains, it being now one of the most valuable pieces of property in the city. On this lot, in February, 1846, he built a log house and blacksmith shop, of hewed logs, outside and in. He says it was the first building ever erected in Portland. He sold his Government land claim for a horse, a little later exchanging the same horse for a mile square of the beautiful farm on which he now resides, in Portland, this land being worth today $5,000 to $6,000 an acre. He worked at his trade in his shop in Portland until 1848. In the meantime he had married a widow, Mrs. Philenda Green, who died in 1873. They had two children: Mary, who died when only twelve years of age; and Julia V., wife of T. M. Richardson, of Portland; she died suddenly of heart failure, July 14, 1892. When gold was discovered in California, he decided to go there, taking his wife and oldest son. Accordingly, he fitted up a wagon and team, the latter to carry the provisions and outfit overland to the gold diggings, and engaged a man to go with his son and the team, while he and his wife took passage on the brig Henry, to California. They met with severe weather on the water and had numerous delays, not arriving in California until several weeks after the team had arrived in safety at their destination. The man had stored the goods, sold the team and appropriated the funds, while his son, Lorenzo, was in the mines, he did not no where. He landed at Sacramento, where he spread a tent, and then went in search of his son. One night, being away until late, the coyotes cut the lasso with which his horse was tied, and it got away, leaving Mr. Terwilliger to go the rest of the way on foot. Next day, after walking for eight miles, he came to a trading station, called Green Springs. He bought out the trader, and leaving a man to take care of it, he went in search of his son. He went on to Hangtown. where he found his son, and learned where his goods were stored. While he was at hangtown, they were trying three men for stealing goods from a trading station. They gave them fifty lashes each, and ordered them to leave the town in twenty minutes. One of them left, the others continued to hang around. Soon a man came to Hangtown, who had been fearfully bruised. This same gang had killed two men and left this one for dead. He told his story, and they captured these two men, tried them, found them guilty, and sentenced them to be hung. Placing them on two mules, they fastened the ropes over their heads and gave the mules a crack, the mules sprang from under them, leaving the two men swinging in mid air. Mr. Terwilliger immediately returned to Sacramento, where he hired a man to take him and his wife to Green Springs; there they kept the supply store for about a year. He also hired a couple of Indians and with his son dug for gold. They were successful with their store and also in mining, but after a year the Indians became so troublesome that Mr. Terwilliger sold out. They had made about $8,000 in gold dust, with his son and the Indians. He himself, has dug as much as six and eight ounces a day. He then went to Sacramento, where he started one of the first blacksmith shops in the town. He hired a journeyman for an ounce of gold a day, besides which he had two helpers. This he continued to run for seven months, making some days $200 a day. During that time, a couple of thieves stole the blankets belonging to his man. They were caught, and the blankets recovered. They were tried, found guilty, and Mr. Terwilliger was asked to state the number of lashes they should have; they received twenty-five lashes each. Mr. Terwilliger's wife was taken sick, and went to San Francisco for treatment, where he went to see her, then deciding to return to Oregon. Knowing that lumber was very high in San Francisco, he purchased a cargo of it, chartered a vessel, which he loaded, and took this to that city, where, upon arriving, he found that five large ships had come loaded with Eastern pine, and the market was ruined. He took his lumber to Sacramento, where he sold it to Lee, Cornwall & Co., on ninety days' time, and they failed before pay-day, Mr. Terwilliger and his partner losing, thereby, $27,000. Then he sold his blacksmith shop, and bidding good-bye to California, returned to Oregon, engaging in the tannery business in company with his brother John. Here he continued for five years, working his farm in the meantime, and still retains a large portion of this valuable ranch. In 1869, he built a handsome residence on his farm, with commodious barns for his grain and stock, and all conveniences and improvements attainable. September 1, 1892, Mr. Terwilliger, after a brief illness, passed to the great beyond, at the good old age of more than four-score years. In all his life he had been an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Ever leading an honorable and upright life, he enjoyed the deserved esteem of all who knew him, and warmly dwelt in the affectionate regards of his family and friends, who sincerely lament his demise. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.