The Immigration of 1844

Excerpted from "The History of Oregon, Vol. I: 1834-1848"
By Hubert Howe Bancroft
Published by The History Company, San Francisco, 1886

"The Immigration of 1844" is one chapter of Bancroft's two-volume history of the settlement of Oregon Territory, and its progress to statehood. This chapter gives a detailed description of wagon trains that left Missouri in the spring of 1844, and arrived in Oregon Territory in late autumn. In addition to describing the conditions of their journey, Bancroft also provides substantial biographical information about many of the pioneers who made the journey. Because many of these pioneers went on to settle in Cowlitz and Lewis Counties, Washington, I have transcribed this chapter in its entirety.

I have also included an excerpt from the Rev. H. K. Hines's book, "Pen Pictures from The Garden of the World - An Illustrated History of the State of Washington" (1893) that describes the settlement of the first community north of the Columbia River by the Michael T. Simmons party (with many thanks to Alice Harrison for bringing this account to my attention).

Contents:

• Chapter 17, The Immigration of 1844

• Listing of immigrants, with biographical notes

• Hines's account of the first settlement in Washington Territory.

Other Sources:

If you are interested in learning more about the early settlement of Washington Territory, the following works may be of interest:

• "1845-1945: A Washington Centennial Commemorative Booklet." Subtitle: "Arrival of Michael Simmons Party at Tumwater (New Market) to Establish First Community in Washington. Establishment of Lewis County - 'Mother of Washington Counties'." Published by the State Department of Conservation and Development.

• Newell, Gordon R. "So Fair a Dwelling Place: A History of Olympia and Thurston Co., Washington." 1950.

• Trosper, Don. "The Founding of Tumwater." Volume 1 of "The History of Tumwater." Tumwater Historical Association, 1985. Copies of this book may still be available for purchase from the Tumwater Historical Society.

• Return to Cowlitz Co., WA GenWeb project

• Return to Lewis Co., WA GenWeb project

© 2001-2007 by Jenny Tenlen for the Cowlitz and Lewis Counties, WA GenWeb projects. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.