loneerkozi.et1ion; - ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University

AttNIJAL ADDRESS. 19
of a century ago, leisurely reviewing the many strange scenes and perilous exposures
which the early emigrants had to encounter and overcome in making
that ever memorable journey of the wilderness, the hardships and privations
which they endured for years after settling down among the wild tribes of the
furtherest west, to give a full and faithful account of the anxieties, sufferings
and final triumphs of these Pioneers would to say the least, fill a liberal sized
volume with historical facts, which would be of much interest to those who are
to succeed us.
It is truly gratifying to state that much credit is due to the young people and
friends of the Pioneer Association for the material assistance which they have
on all occasions so cheerfully extended in aiding the Pioneers, to forward the
objects of the organization ; nor are we unmindful of the many favors which the
Association has received at the hands of the public press, and especially the
Oregonian, the oldest living pioneer papera survivor of Oregon's Territorial
daysfor the alacrity shown by its management in publishing full reports of
your annual meetings. The Pioneers are also indebted to the managers of the
State Agricultural Society, for the free use of their commodious buildings and
park, in which these Annual Re-Unions have been held since 1874.
I purchased from a Canadian Frenchman in the summer of 1845, the farm in
French Prairie, upon which I have since lived. At that time, I had the contract
of building the St. Louis Catholic church, situated on the western border
of what was known as Big Prairie. This church, unlike St. Paul's, located
some seven miles west of north, was not erected by the assistance of Missionary
funds, but by the Canadian settlers.
My early location among this people gave me a favorable opportunity of acquiring
some knowledge of the many strange vicissitudes in the lives of these
brawny Sons of the chase. With one or two exceptions, all the first settlers of
French Prairie, were then living, and were hail, active old men ; generally surrounded
with a good supply of the common comforts of life, a few had built
comfortable frame dwellings, which were neatly painted and had large bearing
apple trees. These old Canadian voyageurs were a very kind people; they
dispensed with a liberal hand alike to stranger and friend the rude hospitality
of those primitive times, to a degree unknown to the country since the disturbing
innovations that swept over their Eden home in 1849.50, borne from the gold.
glittering Sierras of the south.
French Prairie, comparatively limited in extent, is nevertheless a prolific field,
abounding in many stirring and important events in connection with the early
history of Oregon. Here have lived and now lie buried, two of that gallant
band of Pioneers, who, with Lewis and Clark, in 1805, followed the waters of
tbe Columbia from their source to the uttermost limits of the West.