Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 588.
 
W. G. FLETT

     a farmer and stockman, eight miles south from Olex, was born in Washington
county, Oregon, on September 25, 1842. His father, David Flett, was born in
Manitoba, in 1818, and was employed by the Hudson's Bay Company. Under their
direction, in 1841, being induced by the promises of Sir George Simpson, one of
the formers of the company, he came with an expedition of emigrants to settle on
the Pacific coast. The company consisted of eighty-two persons which left
Selkirk settlement, Manitoba, on May 20, 1841. They traveled up the Saskatchewan
to its head, crossed the Rockies at either Yellowhead or Arrowhead passes,
thence they came through the Kootenai country to Fort Colville and from there,
continued their journey through the Spokane country to Fort Wallula in time to
see the fort burned by Cayuse Indians.  They journeyed thence to Vancouver, some
of the party going down the Columbia river and the balance fetching the horses.
When they reached the Cascades, they were met by Sir George Simpson saying that
he could not comply with his agreement to furnish a certain number of cows,
sheep and farming implements and a year's provision but promised to furnish some
things if they settled north of the Columbia river. They went to Puget sound and
spent the winter of 1841-42 at Fort Nesqually. In the spring, a portion of them,
including Mr. Flett, moved to Tualitan plains where he died in 1843. Mr. Flett
had married Miss Letitia Cook, who was born in the Selkirk Settlement, Manitoba,
in 1820. Her father, William H. Cook, was born in England and came to the
Selkirk settlement in 1810 and conducted a mercantile establishment there for
the Hudson's Bay Company until 1846. He was chief factor of that post. Mr. and
Mrs. Flett were married in 1840 and she died in 1857, at Newburg, Yamhill
county. Our subject's father died when this lad was but three years old. The
widowed mother then moved to Wapato lake where she married J. B. Rogers, in the
spring of 1846. Then they moved to where Newburg is now located and bought a
farm and there our subject grew up and was educated. In 1857 the mother died and
our subject was made the ward of his uncle, John Flett, who apprenticed him to
John W. Cullins to learn the harnessmaker's trade in Portland. Owing to the
failure of the firm he was released and accompanied his uncle to Fort Nesqually
where he worked for the Hudson's Bay Company under chief factor Huggins for a
year. Then we see him in the Willamette valley working at the saddler's trade
for wages until 1861, after which he came east of the Cascades and rode the
range for Senator Ankeny and later purchased Indian ponies, running a pack train
to Canyon City and in March, 1863, the Indians stole the entire train at
Shaniko.  He purchased more horses and packed for another season to Boise, then
returned to the Willamette valley and engaged in the manufacture of saddles. In
April, 1870, he took a preemption near where he now resides. Later he took other
claims and bought more land until he is now farming nearly three sections. He
has been farming and stock raising, handling cattle, until recently. Now he
devotes his time to raising hogs and general farming. He has a couple of hundred
head and expects to increase the number soon. Mr. Flett is well known all
through the country and highly esteemed, both as a pioneer and a substantial
man.
     In 1872, Mr. Flett married Miss Lydia Doughty, who was born in Yamhill
county, Oregon, on December 23, 1853. Her father, William Doughty, was born in
Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1810. He came west in the employ of the American Fur
Company in 1837 and four years later journeyed on to the Willamette valley where
he died in 1871. He had married Miss Mary Doughty, who was born in 1815. To Mr.
and Mrs. Flett the following children have been born, Mrs. Dona Clark, Mrs.
Stella Clark, Rube, John, William, Fannie, Maude, Elda, Frank, Florence, and
Arthur McKinley, all living. Mr. Flett has one half sister, Anna Rogers. In
politics, he is a strong Republican, having held these principles all his life.
He is narrowed to no particular denomination but supports them all liberally. He
also labors zealously for the advancement of educational interests and is a
highly esteemed citizen. Mr. Flett has done considerable work for the government
officers in locating Indians on land and has won their confidence and
esteem. He is a genuine westerner, generous, hospitable and brave.
     It is of interest to know that when the Red River expedition was at the
Cascade fort, their captain, James Sinclair, was killed by the Indians. The fort
was besieged by savages and the first shot fired killed Captain Sinclair. Grant
and Sheridan were there at that time.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.