Bancroft, Hubert Howe. The History of Oregon, Vol. I 1834-1848. From "The Works
of Hubert Howe Bancroft," Vol. XXIX.  The History Company, San Francisco, CA,
1886. pg. 468.

JOSEPH WATT

	Joseph Watt was born in Ohio, but emigrated from Missouri.  He remained at
Oregon City over two years, when he returned to the States to bring out sheep
and a carding-machine.  This attempt to drive sheep overland from the east was
suggested by the fact that one of the Shaws in 1844 drove 16 sheep to Oregon,
which he intended to kill for mutton by the way; finding that they travelled as
well as other stock, and buffalo being plenty, he spared them.  This Shaw
removed to Benicia, California.  Watt had no sooner returned to to Oregon with
his carding-machine and sheep than the gold discovery in California drew
everybody who could go to the mines, and he realized nothing from his scheme of
introducing a useful manufacture.  But his sheep increased, and money came into
the country, until finally he conceived the idea of a woollen factory, which was
finally established at Salem in 1857, this being the pioneer woollen-mill on the
Pacific coast of the United States.  Mr. Watt still resides in Salem.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project by Jenny Tenlen. Submitter has no
additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.