Oregon Archives

Oregon Genealogical Societies

State Genealogical Societies Genealogical Council of Oregon Genealogical Forum of Oregon Oregon Daughters of the American Revolution, Oregon Oregon Genealogy Society Oregon Mennonite Historical and Genealogical Society Regional Genealogical Societies Lower Umpqua and Coastal area Genealogical Society Rogue Valley Genealogy Society Willamette Valley Genealogy Society Local Genealogical Societies Bend Genealogical Society (Deschutes County) Benton County Genealogy Society Blue Mountain Genealogy Society, Umatilla County Clark County Genealogical Society Clatsop County Genealogical Society Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society Cottage Grove Genealogical Society (Lane County) Curry County Genealogical Society Grant County Genealogical Society Klamath Basin Genealogical Society Lebanon Genealogical Society, Linn County Lincoln County … Read more

The following are a list of archival repositories within the state of Oregon, or National archival information which holds Oregon records. National Archives United State National Archives Digital Classroom Genealogy Research at the National Archives Oregon Archives Oregon State Archives Oregon Historical County Records Guide Oregon Historical Society Sherman County Historical Museum Frazier Farmstead Museum Online Alabama Archives USGenWeb Oregon Archives Search the USGenWeb Oregon Archives

Oregon Libraries

The following are a list of Oregon libraries. If the library is known to have a genealogical or historical section, then we have placed an asterisk (*) beside it. Oregon State Library * Genealogy Periodicals at the State Library (PDF) Master file of Genealogy Resources on Microfilm (PDF) Oregon Newspaper Index Oregon Trail Emigrant Resources (PDF) Special Collections State and Subject Index to Master file (PDF) State Library Catalog Summary of Genealogy Resources on Microfilm (PDF) Surname Index to Master file (PDF) Oregon Library Association Oregon Special Libraries Jackson County Genealogy Library * Oregon Historical Society (Portland) * Oregon Public Libraries Albany Public Library Canby Public … Read more

The Battle of White Bird Canon

The Wallowa Valley is fifteen or twenty miles east of the Grande Ronde Valley in eastern Oregon, and had long been a bone of contention between the whites and a band of non-treaty Nez Percé Indians under Chief Joseph. The whites claimed the right of settlement under the United States Land Acts, and while no determined effort on their part was made to take up homestead, preemption or other claims, yet they kept it as a grazing ground for their cattle, while the Indians denied them the right to such privileges, claiming to themselves the entire control of the valley … Read more

Washington Pioneers and Solders in the Indian War

David Shelton, son of Lewis Shelton and Nancy Gladdin, his wife, and grandson of Roderick Shelton and Usley Willard, his wife, of Virginia, was born in Buncombe County, Virginia, Sept. 15, 1812, migrating with his parents to Missouri territory in 1819. He married Frances Willson, born in Kentucky, May 30, 1837, and removed in 1838 to the Platte Purchase, settling near St Joseph, where he lived until 1847, when he emigrated to Oregon, taking up a claim on Sauvé Island, which he sold in 1848, and went to the California gold mines, returning to Portland in 1849, where he remained … Read more

Second Regiment of Washington Volunteers

The 2d regiment of Washington volunteers was officered, so far as the official correspondence shows, as follows: Company A, Capt. Edward Lander; 1st Lieut A. A. Denny. Vice H. H. Peixotto resigned; 2d Lieut D. A. Neely; H. A. Smith surgeon; Strength 33 rank and file. Non-com officers, John Henning, C. D. Biven, J. Ross, Jacob Wibbens, James Fielding, Walter Graham, David Manner, Asa Fowler. Company B, Capt. Gilmore Hays, promoted to major by election; 1st Lieut A. B. Rabbeson, elected Capt. Vice Hays; 1st Lieut Van Ogle, vice Rabbeson, and John Brady, vice Van Ogle, commanded lastly by Captain … Read more

Southern Battalion of Washington

The southern battalion consisted of the Washington Mounted Rifles, Capt. H. J. G. Maxon, Company D, Capt. Achilles, who was succeeded by Lieut Powell, and two Oregon companies, one Company, K, under Francis M. P. Goff, of Marion County, and another, Company J, under Bluford Miller of Polk County. Oregon Statesman, March 11 and May 20, 1856. For convenience of reference, they are named here: Company A, organized and commanded by Lieut-Col Edward Lander Walla Walla County, organized out of friendly Chehalis and Cowlitz Indians by Sidney S. Ford, Capt. Clarke County Rangers, organized by Capt. William Kelly Company E, … Read more

Washington Settlers from Oregon

William Craig was born in Greenbriar County, Virginia, in 1810. He entered the service of the American Fur Company in 1830, and for ten years led the life of a trapper. When the fur companies broke up, about 1810, he came to Oregon, and settled not long after at Lapwai, near Spalding’s mission, to which he rendered valuable assistance in controlling the Indians. He also was of much service to Gov. Stevens in making treaties with the Indians of eastern Washington. Stevens appointed him on his staff, with the rank of Lieutenant colonel, and he was afterward appointed Indian agent … Read more

Washington Petitions for Land Law separate from Oregon

The most important matter to which the attention of the national legislature was called was a change in the land law, to effect which congress was memorialized to grant them a surveyor-general of their own, and a land system “separate from, and wholly disconnected with, that of Oregon territory.” To be relieved from the prohibition preventing the holders of donation certificates from selling any portion of their claims before they received a patent; their certificates to be prima facie evidence of title. Suggestions were given as to the manner of establishing a claim by witnesses before the surveyor-general. That persons … Read more

Washington Blockhouses or Stockades erected during Indian War

There were 22 block-houses or stockades erected by the settlers during the war, as follows : at Davis’ Skookum Chuck Henness, near Mound prairie on Tenalcut prairie, at Nathan Eaton’s #1 on Chambers’ prairie #2 on Chambers’ prairie at Bush’s Goodell’s Ruddell’s Rutledge’s #1 at Tumwater #2 at Tumwater one at Dofflemeyer’s one on Whidbey Island one at Port Gamble one on the Cowlitz (Fort Arkansas) one on Mime prairie, one at Port Ludlow, one at Meigs’ Mill, #1 at the Cascades #2 at the Cascades one at Boisford prairie. Others were subsequently erected by the volunteers and troops, to … Read more

Mounted Volunteer Companies engaged in the Indian War

Mounted Volunteer Companies engaged in the Indian War, Mason’s administration. See: Washington Indian Wars, 1855-1856 for context of this list. Volunteer Companies Companies A, Capt. William Strong, and B, Capt. Gilmore Hays, were mustered into the regular service and furnished their own horses Company B, Capt. Isaac Hays Company F, Capt. B. S. Henness Company K, Capt. John R. Jackson Cowlitz Rangers, Capt. H. W. Peers Lewis River Rangers, Capt. William Bratton, in the service of the territory, furnished their own horses Stevens Guards. Capt. Higgins, were furnished horses by Gov. Spokane Invincibles, Capt. Yantis, horses partly furnished by Gov. … Read more

Indian Fight of the 7th, 8th, and 9th of December of 1858

Indian Fight of the 7th, 8th, and 9th of December of 1858. See: Washington Indian Wars, 1855-1856 for context of this list. Killed: Capt. Charles Bennett of Company F, the same who was connected with James Marshall in the discovery of gold in California 2d Lieut J. M. Burrows, Company H Simon S. Van Hagerman, Company I. Mortally wounded, who lived but a few hours: E. B. Kelsey, Company A Henry Crow and Casper Snook, Company H Joseph Sturdevant, Company B Jesse Flemming, Company A Dangerously wounded: Capt. Layton Privates T. J. Payne, Nathan Fry F. Crabtree, Company H J. … Read more

Oregon Genealogy at Ancestry

Ancestry is the largest provider of genealogy data online. The billions of records they provide have advanced genealogy online beyond imagination just a decade ago. The following is but a small sample of what they provide for Oregon genealogy at Ancestry. While some of these databases are free, many require a subscription. You can try a 14 day free trial and see if you can find any of your Oregon genealogy at Ancestry! Oregon Genealogy Databases – Subscription May be Required Ancestry Free Trial Statewide Genealogy A short history of Oregon : early discoveries, the Lewis and Clark exploration, settlement, government, Indian … Read more

Political Secessionism And Crime

Before the mining period, commencing in 1862, Idaho was a comparatively unknown region belonging nominally to Oregon and afterward to Washington. During the years 1862-3 such was the rush of immigration to this section that Idaho was erected into a territory of the United States government. The enabling act to organize as such was passed by congress in the spring of the latter year, and on the 22d of September William H. Wallace, late delegate to congress from Washington, who had, on July l0th preceding, been appointed governor of Idaho by President Lincoln, issued his proclamation for organizing the territory, … Read more

Rival Claims and Pretensions

The claims of the European nations to ownership of the lands and resources of America rested on a somewhat flimsy basis in right. Its morality was that of might. There was a quasi yielding to these claims as against each other on grounds of discovery and formal occupancy. At the same time not one of these powers stopped for a moment to consider what rights of these people that were found there when they came would be violated by their assumptions. Barbaric nations never had any rights that nations calling themselves civilized have felt bound to respect. England, France, and … Read more

Oregon and South Dakota Indians Wounded in Action

The following Indians Wounded in Action, are listed by Name, Tribe and Location of death. The name under the photograph is the person shown. No additional information was provided in the book. Oregon John Sampson, Cayuse-Umatilla, France Edson Chiloquin, Klamath-Modoc Roland Jackson, Klamath-Paiute LeRoy A. Moore, Klamath-Madoc Marvin J. Walker, Klamath John Jackson, Jr., Klamath South Dakota Theodore Taylor, Sioux (Flandreau), New Guinea Ralph Gullickson, Sioux (Flandreau) Aochen Warren Gullickson, Sioux (Flandreau), Leyte Woodrow Keeble, Sioux (Sisseton), North Africa Francis Adams, Sioux (Sisseton), Italy Joseph Gray, Sioux (Sisseton), Germany Leroy Heminger, Sioux (Sisseton), France Nathan Wilson, Sioux (Sisseton), Germany Floyd … Read more

Oregon, Utah, Washington Indian Honored War Dead

The following Honored War Dead, are listed by Name, Tribe and Location of death. The name under the photograph is the person shown. No additional information was provided in the book. Oregon Raymond L. Enouf, Klamath, Pacific Roscoe Dick, Warm Springs, Philippines Gilbert Yahtin, Warm Springs, Belgium Wesley Morrisette, Walla Walla, Italy Utah Nelson Tonegates, Ute, Germany Ansel G. Wanzitz, Ute, France Washington Samuel C. Abrahamson, Colville, Manila Charles Schultz, Jr., Lummi, France Richard Wood, Clallam, Germany Roy Knight, Swinomish, Belgium John Bobb, Swinomish, Germany Melvin Ross, Muckleshoot, Italy Martin James, Snoqualmie, Luzon John H. Kittles, Lummi, Italy Herman John, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Archie Leonard Offield

From years of practice in this county Dr. A. L. Offield of Burlingame is one of its oldest physicians. He gave up a large practice in San Francisco to come to Burlingame nine years ago. At that time Burlingame was one of the smallest towns on the peninsula but its growth bears out the predictions that Dr. Offield made for it at that time. Dr. Offield is a member of the Burlingame Board of Health which has given Burlingame one of the best health departments of any municipality on the peninsula. The activity of the health board is apparent in … Read more

Biography of Racine McCoy McRoskey

Racine McCoy McRoskey was a native of Oregon, raised and educated in Portland where she passed with credit through the grammar and high schools of that city. In her early womanhood she moved to San Francisco where she lived until after the earthquake of 1906. In 1907 the McRoskeys came to San Mateo where they were living at their home on San Mateo Drive at the time of Mrs. McRoskey’s death in April, 1915. Mrs. McRoskey took an active part in club and social affairs, being a member of the Thursday Club and the Woman’s Club of San Mateo and … Read more

Biography of William (Bill) Womack

William (Bill) Womack, son of John William and Martha Thompson, left Wallowa around 1910 to take up a homestead near Wilder, Idaho. There he married Nellie Mae Pack. Nellie Mae Pack 1889-1934, a daughter of John Henry Pack and Lucy Ann Maria (Carter) Pack, lived in Wallowa from 1898 to 1903. She, with her family came from Beckley, West Virginia, by train, as far as Idaho, then accompanied by the Oscar Bidler family, traveled by wagon train to the Wallowa Valley. John Pack lived on a farm on Whiskey Creek, and Nellie, her brothers and sisters, attended what was then … Read more