James John facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James John
Born	1809 Donnelsville, Ohio
Died	May 28, 1886 (1886-05-29) (aged 76) Multnomah County, Oregon
Other names	Jimmy John, St. John
Occupation	educator, fisherman, ferry operator, merchant
Known for	founding the settlement of St. Johns, Oregon (1846) Bartleson–Bidwell Party (1841–43)

James John (1809–1886) was an important person in Oregon's history. He is known for starting the settlement of St. Johns in Oregon. This area later grew into a city and then became part of Portland.

James John had many jobs throughout his life. He worked as a teacher, a fisherman, and he ran a general store. He also operated a ferry boat that crossed the Willamette River. He even served as a Justice of the Peace and helped with elections. James John was born in Ohio. He first lived in Indiana where he was a teacher. Later, he joined a famous group of pioneers called the Bartleson–Bidwell Party. This group was one of the first to travel the California Trail. James John arrived in Oregon Country in 1843.

After James John passed away in 1886, there was a long process to sort out his property. In his will, he wanted a large part of his land to be used for a new public school in St. Johns. He asked for his personal belongings to be sold to help pay for building materials. His main wish was that the school should not be connected to any specific religious group. A high school named James John High School opened in 1911, fulfilling part of his dream.

Who Was James John?

James John was born in Donnelsville, Ohio, in 1809. He first lived in Lafayette, Indiana, where he worked as a teacher. Later, he moved to Oregon after traveling through California. James John was a widower, meaning his wife had passed away. He never married again. His son also died when they were in Indiana.

Journey to California (1841–1843)

In 1841, James John joined the Bartleson–Bidwell Party. This made him one of the first people to travel the California Trail. He left Missouri on May 16, 1841, as part of this expedition. Members of the group were supposed to keep journals. John sometimes forgot to write in his.

Early in the journey, John's oxen (a type of cattle) wandered off, causing a delay. On May 20, the group reached the Kansas River. Native Americans helped them cross by floating their belongings on buffalo hides. The next day, they were invited to a Pawnee celebration. They smoked a calumet, which John called the "peace pipe."

While crossing the Rocky Mountains, John and John Bidwell got stuck on a mountain peak. They had to walk down in the dark. Their moccasins (soft shoes) were torn by sharp rocks. They eventually found a Native American village and set up camp. One of John's main jobs was to catch fish, especially trout, for the group. Bidwell often called him "Jimmy." John took a different path from Bidwell to reach Sutter's Fort in what is now Sacramento, California. This made him one of the first members of the party to finish the long trip.

Life in Oregon (1843–1886)

After his journey to California, James John got a job with the Hudson's Bay Company in 1843. He worked at Fort Vancouver in Oregon territory. On July 2, 1844, John wrote in his journal that he camped across the Willamette River from Linnton, Oregon. This spot is likely where St. Johns is today. He lived in Linnton for a few years, planning to build a warehouse.

However, he moved across the river and started the settlement of "St. Johns" in 1845. He claimed land there. By 1846 and 1848, land records showed that about a dozen families had made St. Johns their home.

James John was known for being very kind. He often offered warm meals to hungry people. He even gave land to those who didn't have a home. In 1850, he opened a general store. In 1852, he started a rowboat ferry service across the Willamette River to Linnton. He received a license for his ferry on April 5, 1853.

In 1870, John was elected as the settlement's Justice of the Peace. He was a member of the Republican Party. In 1870, he also built derricks (lifting machines) for the United States Customs Service office in Portland. In 1876 and 1877, John and another St. Johns resident, B. O. Severence, served as election judges.

His Passing and Legacy

James John was found dead in his bedroom on May 28, 1886. The coroner said he died from natural causes. He was 77 years old. His neighbor, T. D. Taylor, found him. Before 1904, James John's grave did not have a headstone. The people of St. Johns later raised money to place a marker on his grave at Historic Columbian Cemetery.

John's will was signed on May 14, 1888. It stated that his personal items should be sold. He wanted one piece of land to be used for a public school in St. Johns. He wrote that the school "shall be public and open to the children of the school district." He also wished that it would "never be used to teach the beliefs of one religion more than another."

In September 1893, John's sister and niece tried to challenge his will in court. They claimed he was not well enough to make the will. However, witnesses came forward and said James John was of sound mind when he signed it. His land was worth a lot of money, about US$100,000.

In December 1901, Robert Catilin was put in charge of James John's property. In 1903, the court cases were settled. This meant the money from his property could be used to build the new public school, as John had wanted. However, in 1907, it was announced that the city did not own all the land John had left. They had to give back some of it. But they kept a small part where they eventually built a high school.

In November 1906, a new ferry boat was named the James John. This was done to honor the founder of the settlement. The people of St. Johns also held a "Pioneer Day." They announced plans to raise a statue of James John if they could collect enough money. James John's dream of a public school for St. Johns came true in 1911. That's when James John High School opened on the land that was kept for the school.

James John's Journal Entries

Here are some parts from James John's journal. They were shared in the St. Johns Review in 1906 by George H. Heins, director of the Oregon Historical Society.

1841

• May 17 & 18 — "Stayed the night about 11 miles from the Wakarootia [Wakarusa River] creek and crossed it at 12 o'clock on the 18^th. This night we encamped at the creek by the name above mentioned that we crossed yesterday. Here we met with some difficulty. One of our oxen strayed and we did not get them until 10 o'clock in the morning."
• May 19 — "This night we camped at a spring 20 miles from the Canzes [Kansas] River."
• May 20 — "This morning we set out for the crossing place. We had not gone far before we [met] two of the company coming back to meet us. They told us that the rest of the company had gone ahead. They helped us push on and we got to the river at three o'clock, and got all of our baggage and wagon animals etc., across the river at sunset. The Indians were very active in helping us across. They floated our baggage over in buffalo hides, swimming and pushing them before them."
• May 21, 22 & 23 — "This morning we set out to overtake the company. We had not gone far before five of the company came riding up and told us that the company was two days ahead of us. They stayed until we got up with them, which happened on the 23^rd. This day we met 14 Pawnee Indian warriors armed and equipped for battle. They shook hands with us and appeared to be friendly. One of the men gave them some tobacco which pleased them very much. We went on and encamped on a large creek called the Blue. There we overtook the company who were waiting there for us. Here we caught some fine fish, and stayed until morning."
• May 24 — "This day we arrived at another creek at one o'clock; it being very high, we were obliged to camp there until morning."
• May 25 — "We crossed the creek at seven o'clock this morning. Here we caught some fish and some of the company seen [sic] a gang of elk. We encamped this night on a small creek."
• May 26 — "We left here at seven o'clock. One of the wagons broke down. Today we seen [sic] about 30 Pawnee Indians today [sic]. They were very friendly and armed with bows, lances and guns, prepared to meet the Caws. One of the mule teams run [sic] away and broke the hounds of their wagon. This night we encamped at a small creek."
• May 27 — "Left here early this morning. The route is a little broken today and the heat oppressive. Camped this night at a handsome little creek about 15 miles from the place where we stayed last night."
• May 28 — "Set out this morning early. Stopped and took breakfast at a beautiful creek of pure water at nine o'clock. Left there at 10 o'clock and arrived at a creek called the Big Blue. There we encamped this day. One of the men killed one antelope. The heat was oppressive today. We have killed one antelope and a few deer and a few turkeys since we started for California and that is about all we have killed."
• May 29 — "Started early this morning. Killed two antelope. Encamped on the banks of the Blue this evening, for we are traveling on the banks of that stream. It rises eastward and we are going west. Encamped on the same stream this night."
• May 30 — "Left here this morning at eight o'clock. Killed one deer and antelope today. Stayed this night on the banks of the Blue."
• May 31 — "Started early this morning at seven o'clock. Met five wagons form Fort Laramer [Laramie] to Independence [Missouri]. They said it would be four days before we would get to any buffalo. They were loaded with plenty, buffalo hides etc. We traded with them for some buffalo meet and moccasins. We are about 400 miles west of Independence, traveling through sandy but fertile plains. We are still traveling on the Blue. Left the Blue this morning and encamped on the prairie."
• July 13 — "This morning we left the encampment and traveled over some rocky country. Killed one buffalo. We met two of our men about 10 o'clock that had been sent by the company on the 6^th of July to rendezvous on Green River to make some arrangements for [the] company in exchanging the oxteams for mules, etc.: but they found no person there, not even an Indian on the whole route. We have not seen an Indian, except two, that are with us, since we left Laramie fort. We encamped on the banks of the creek last mentioned."
• July 14 — "This day we lay here for the purpose of killing and laying in more meat. We had a hard frost here this morning. We have killed a fine chance at buffalo today. I do not know the number: perhaps about eight or nine."
• July 15 — "This day we moved about eight miles and camped until next day on Sweetwater creek. The nights are cool here and there is frost nearly every morning. There is no timber except a few willows along the creek. We are at this time about eight miles from what is called Wind river mountains. They are in sight of us and are covered with snow. We have seen them for the last 10 days. We leave them to the right hand."
• July 16 — "This day we moved about ten miles farther up the creek and encamped about noon for purpose of drying meat and getting good range for our cattle and horses. We killed a good number of fowl which they call sage cocks [centrocercus]. They are larger than a common domestic chicken."
• July 17 — "I caught some good fish at the camp. We left the camp at eight o'clock and moved about three miles farther up the creek. We have killed three buffalo bulls today and a number of sage chickens. Buffaloes are getting scarce here. Nothing but bulls. The is now cows [sic] here."
• July 18 — "We left Sweetwater creek this morning a six o'clock and traveled about 17 miles and encamped on one of the head branches of the Coloradoe [Colorado] of the west. We have killed two buffalo today and one antelope. The day was pleasant and we have had no rain since we left the north fork of the Platte River."
• July 19 — "This day we traveled about 15 miles and encamped on the bank of a creek called the Big Sandy. There is good grass and the wild unions [onions] grown nearly three feet high. We are still in sight of some mountains that we seen on the ninth day of this month and others are covered with snow."
• July 20 — "Today we traveled hard all day, and did not get more than seven or eight miles on a straight line. Killed no game today except one antelope. We encamped on the bank of Big Sandy this evening. The valley is still destitute of timber and almost everything else but sage. The valley is wider in some places than in others, varying from one to 60 miles in width."
• July 21 — "This morning was pleasant and we traveled all day on the basks of Big Sandy, the same creek we encamped on last evening and encamped on this evening."
• July 22 — "Today we traveled about 12 miles and encamped at noon on the bank of the Big Sandy. Here we stayed until the 23^rd. Today a man has returned to camp who was sent out on the 14^th to find some trader on the Coloradoe [Colorado] River in order to get information respecting the route to California and get a pilot. He brought about 60 men with him who came to trade with us. They informed us that it was impossible for wagons to get to California, but they could get down on the Columbia without much trouble."
• July 23 — "This day we traveled about 10 miles and arrived at Green or Coloradoe River, attended by the men that came to us yesterday and a number of Snake Indians. The river here is about 100 yards wide and has little timber on its banks, such as cottonwood and willow. Here we stayed until the 25^th and traded with the Indians and trappers for packhorses, robes, etc. There is frost here nearly every night, but the days are warm and pleasant. The plains around here are barren and destitute of timber."

1843

• July 1 — "Today we came about 12 miles through what is called the Quallatty [Tualatin] plains and we encamped on a small creek near W. D.'s [William Doughty's] plantation. The plains are beautiful for making farms. Nature has cleared them out and surrounded them with good water and timber. The land also appears to be good. The wheat crops are very good this season; the grass plenty and of an excellent quality."

1844

• July 2, 1843 to undated 1844 — "Today [July 2, 1843] I left the [Hudson's Bay] company. Stayed here until the 4^th and went to Vancouver [Washington] a distance of about 25 miles. Bough some clothing and returned to Mr. Doughty's where I remained until September and commenced a farm for myself and sold by improvements for $80 and made another one mile west of it in the plains. This I also sold in the year 1843, about the middle of December, for the sum of $1,200 and left here the first of the year 1844 and bought a townlot in Linnton and built a warehouse."