Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 969.
 
HON. JAMES M. PARTLOW

     An honored Oregon pioneer of 1850, now residing at Hillsborough, was born
in Virginia, April 11, 1824, a son of Virginia parents.  Elijah Partlow, his
father, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and Nancy T. (White) Partlow, his
mother, was a daughter of Colonel William White, who served as a colonel in the
Revolutionary war.  Some time after their marriage, his parents moved to
Tennessee, and later went from there to Texas.  In the latter State they spent
the rest of their lives, and died, the father at the age of sixty-five years,
and the mother in her fiftieth year.  Of their family of eight children only two
survive, Mrs. Barlow and the subject of this sketch.  The latter was educated in
his native State, and resided with his parents until their death.
     In 1847 Mr. Partlow enlisted to serve in the Mexican war, under Colonel
Sterling Price, and was all through that war.  He participated in the campaign
on the Rio Grande, was in several hard-fought battles, and made some
hair-breadth escapes.  The fiercest contest was the battle of Tause, in which
Company K, to which Mr. Partlow belonged, lost one-eighth of its men.  On one
occasion he, with nine others, was detailed to take care of a number of horses
of the company in the mountains, and while there they learned that the Mexican
Rangers were coming to attack them.  Our young friend and his party knew if they
were taken it would be sure death.  He was chosen commander of their number and
undertook to lead them from the mountains to the American army.  On the way they
had to go down a steep mountain side that was covered with snow, on which the
horses were unable to retain their footing.  He ordered the men to take the
bridles off, leave the saddles on, and drive the horses out on the slanting
mountain side.  The horses, as soon as they reaches a place where the slant
becomes abrupt, fell and on their sides went sliding down the mountain, at the
foot of which they were caught and re-mounted.  Reaching a Mexican town further
on, they demanded food, but were denied it.  The order was given to cock and
trail arms, and in this way they bravely rode through the town.  Later, they had
to swim their horses across the Rio Grande, and at midnight, while still
pressing forward, heard in English the words "Halt! Advance and give the
countersign!" and were overjoyed to learn they had reached the outpost of the
American army.  During this journey they subsisted on a small allowance of
parched corn.  At the close of the war Mr. Partlow was honorably discharged at
Fort Leavenworth.
     In 1850 the subject of our sketch hitched up two yoke of cows, and in
company with Mr. James Austin, crossed the plains to Oregon.  When they reached
the Cascade mountains they found 100 emigrants, men, women and children, whose
journey had been impeded by mountain snows.  Mr. Partlow and his partner passed
them, made their way on to Oregon, there loaded pack animals with provisions and
with volunteers from Oregon returned to render the emigrants assistance.  After
their arrival in the valley, Mr. Partlow's pocketbook contained just 30 cents.
In Oregon City he met and became acquainted with Mr. John Rogers, at whose home
he remained two months.  In the spring he went to Yreka, California, where, in
partnership with his brother-in-law, Judge White, he engaged in mining, which
enterprise proved a successful one.  During his mining experience the largest
piece of gold he found was about the size of a turkey egg.  Previous to his
coming West, Captain Partlow had had some experience in boating on the Missouri
river, and while he was in the mines, Captain Brazell, the great steamboat man
of that day, wrote him to come to Oregon City and run the Oregon.  This he did.
After running this vessel some time he took command of the Gazelle, and later,
was engaged in steamboating east of the mountains, on the Columbia and Snake
rivers.  After a most successful career as a steamboat captain, he turned his
attention to investments in land, in which he also met with marked success.
Realizing the fact that Vancouver, British Columbia, was bound to grow, he
obtained letters of recommendation from Ladd & Tilton, of Portland, and First
National Bank of East Portland, went to Vancouver and made purchases of real
estate, the recent increased values of which prove the wisdom of his foresight.
The Captain now has large real-estate holdings in Portland and various other
places on the Pacific coast.  His home is one of the prettiest little cottages
in the city of Hillsborough, and in it, retired from active business, he is
spending the evening of his useful life.
     On the 5th of November, 1871, Captain Partlow was married to Mrs. Louisa
Barrett, of East Portland, widow of John Barrett.  The Captain and Mrs. Partlow
have one son, James William.
     Captain Partlow has been a life-long Democrat, but is now independent in
his political views.  In January, 1874, he was elected a member of the Oregon
State Legislature, from Washington county, and while in the Legislature he
served the interests of his constituents to the best of his ability and in a
manner that reflected credit on himself.  He is a good representative Oregon
pioneer of 1850.  Long may he continue to enjoy life in the State of his choice
and adoption.
     

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2006 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.