Comcomly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Comcomly
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Chief Comcomly as he may have appeared in the early 1800s
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| Lower Chinook leader | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1765 |
| Died | 1830 |
| Cause of death | Malaria |
| Resting place | Pacific County, Washington |
| Children | Elvamox (Marianne), Raven (Princess Sunday), Ilchee (Princess Of Wales) |
| Known for | skill with diplomacy and trade |
Comcomly (also spelled Concomly) was an important Native American leader. He lived from 1765 to 1830. Comcomly was the chief of the Lower Chinook people. They were a group of Chinookan peoples living in the Pacific Northwest. Their home was near Ilwaco, Washington. Comcomly spoke the Lower Chinook language. He was well-known for his skills in diplomacy and trade.
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Who Was Chief Comcomly?
Many people described Chief Comcomly as a smart and experienced leader. Washington Irving wrote about him in his book Astoria. Historian James Ronda also called him a talented diplomat and a clever businessman.
Comcomly was friendly with the British and Euro-American explorers. He met Robert Gray and George Vancouver. In 1805, he met the Lewis and Clark explorers. They gave him special peace medals.
Comcomly helped the Pacific Fur Company in the early 1810s. This was also known as the Astor Expedition. During the War of 1812, he offered to help the Americans fight the British. However, the American trading post in Astoria, Oregon was sold to the British. Later, Comcomly guided Hudson's Bay Company ships up the Columbia River. He was even a guest at Fort Vancouver with John McLoughlin. People often called him "Chief" or sometimes "King" in old journals.
Chief Comcomly's Family
Chief Comcomly had several wives. His family played a role in connecting different cultures.
- His daughter, Elvamox (also called Marianne), married Duncan McDougall. He was from the Pacific Fur Company. After McDougall left, she married Etienne Alexis Aubichon, another fur trader. Elvamox had one son and six daughters.
- Another daughter, Koale'xoa (also known as Raven or Princess Sunday), married Archibald McDonald. He was a Scottish trader. She passed away while giving birth to their son, Ranald MacDonald.
- His daughter Ilchee (also called Princess Of Wales) married Alexander McKenzie. He worked for the Hudson's Bay Company. McKenzie was killed in 1828 by members of the S'Klallem tribe.
Comcomly's Descendants
Chief Comcomly has many descendants today. These include Catherine Troeh, a Chinook elder and historian. Another descendant was J. Christopher Stevens, who became a United States Ambassador.
The End of Chief Comcomly's Life
In the early 1830s, a serious malaria sickness spread. It affected the Willamette Valley and nearby areas. This disease caused many Native American lives to be lost. It was one of several illnesses brought by European settlers. These diseases killed an estimated 150,000 Native people between 1829 and 1833.
Chief Comcomly passed away in 1830. He died during an epidemic of "intermittent fever," which was likely malaria. This sickness greatly affected his tribe.
Following Chinook custom, Comcomly's remains were placed in a canoe. This was done in his family's burial ground. In 1835, a doctor named Meredith Gairdner took Comcomly's skull from his grave. It was sent to Scotland for scientific study. The skull was later shown in England. It was damaged during World War II.
In 1953, the skull was sent to the Clatsop County Historical Society in Astoria. Then, in 1956, it went to the Smithsonian Institution. Finally, in 1972, Comcomly's skull was returned to the Chinook tribal members. They were able to rebury it properly.
Places Named After Comcomly
Chief Comcomly's name lives on in several places:
- A station on the Oregon Electric Railway in Marion County was named "Concomly."
- "Concomly Road" is a street in the Salem, Oregon area.
- Chief Concomly Park in Scappoose, Oregon opened in 2019. It is named in his honor.
