Fort Cowlitz facts for kids

Fort Cowlitz or Cowlitz Farm was a large farm run by a British company called the Puget Sound Agricultural Company (PSAC). This company was a part of the famous Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The farm was located on the Cowlitz plains, next to the Cowlitz River in what is now Toledo, Washington.

The farm started in the spring of 1839. It grew a lot of food, especially wheat. This food was sent to other HBC trading posts in places like New Caledonia (now part of Canada) and the Columbia Department. Fort Cowlitz also supplied grain and dairy products to the Russian-American Company in Alaska as part of a special agreement. Another PSAC farm, Fort Nisqually, focused more on raising sheep and cattle. By 1850, Fort Cowlitz found it hard to keep up with all the demands for its supplies.

Cowlitz Farm was set up when the Oregon Country was jointly occupied by both the British and the Americans. The border between British North America and the United States in this area was decided in 1846, mostly along the 49th parallel north. The farm was managed from Fort Vancouver and later Fort Victoria. As more American settlers arrived in the 1840s, they started claiming the land used by Fort Cowlitz. This led to many legal arguments. Eventually, in 1869, the United States bought the PSAC's property for $200,000 in gold coins (which is like equivalent to $4,400,000 in 2022 today!).

Why Fort Cowlitz Was Started

In 1833, two former employees of the Hudson's Bay Company retired and settled on the lands of the Cowlitz people. Five years later, two more French-Canadians joined them. A Catholic missionary named François Blanchet visited these farmers in December 1838. He helped arrange for about 640 acres (260 ha) of land to become the site for the St. Francis Xavier Mission.

Building the Farm

In 1839, James Douglas ordered farming tools, cattle, and nine workers to the Cowlitz plains. This area had about 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) of very good soil. John Tod, a Chief Trader, was in charge of this group. He found farming to be a "new experience."

Over time, Fort Cowlitz grew to include many buildings. There were homes for the workers, a large two-story granary for storing grain, two storehouses, stables, and 14 barns. The main officer's house was well-built, with logs, clapboard siding, and wallpaper inside. Its windows even came from the old Fort George trading post. The granary was also very strong, built with large timber.

How the Farm Operated

In 1839, the Company's workers, led by Chief Trader John Tod, planted almost 300 bushels of wheat. They also plowed 200 acres (81 ha) of land. Fort Cowlitz quickly became the main place for the PSAC to get its grain.

The farm had a diverse group of workers. These included French-Canadians, Hawaiians, Nisqualls, Americans, and Cowlitz people. The Nisqually and Cowlitz workers helped with tasks like digging wells, planting seeds, and harvesting crops. The Hawaiian workers built stables, barns, and warehouses, and did general farm work. They lived in their own separate building.

By 1841, Cowlitz Farm had about 600 acres (240 ha) of land being farmed. It produced around 8,000 bushels of wheat and 4,000 bushels of oats. They also grew barley, peas, and potatoes.

In 1841, members of the Sinclair Expedition also settled at Cowlitz Farm and Fort Nisqually.

Military Interest and Challenges

During the 1840s, military officials from both the United States and the United Kingdom visited the Oregon Country to gather information. Charles Wilkes of the United States Exploring Expedition visited in 1841. He noted that Fort Cowlitz had "no sort of defense." This was because the nearby Cowlitz and Klickitat groups relied heavily on the Company for trade. In 1845, Mervin Vavasour reported that Fort Cowlitz was important strategically. He said that troops could easily travel down the Cowlitz River to the Columbia River from the farm.

Relations between the PSAC, HBC, and the Provisional Government of Oregon became more settled in 1845. By 1847, three PSAC employees claimed 1,920 acres (780 ha) of Cowlitz Farm land. About 1,400 acres (570 ha) of this land was being farmed by 19 staff members that year. However, the California Gold Rush later caused many workers to leave. By 1851, only six employees remained.

Even with a night watch, local Indigenous peoples sometimes took potatoes from the farms. After one such event, a man received a punishment from George Roberts, a clerk at the farm. The wives of Nisqually laborers often helped harvest the potato fields.

In 1847, diseases like measles began to affect Hawaiian and Native employees. This stopped farm operations, forcing Roberts to hire Americans to help with fencing. As illnesses spread among the native people in the winter of 1848, Fort Cowlitz provided medical help and food. Roberts wrote, "We have to feed & assist all the Indians about us, draw fire wood for them &c. 3 died to day. All hands either ill themselves or attending their sick families."

American Settlers Arrive

In 1859, George Roberts, a former clerk who managed Fort Cowlitz, leased the remaining 160 acres (65 ha) of the post. He agreed to keep the buildings in good condition as part of the rent. Roberts soon faced legal challenges from American settlers. These settlers argued that the PSAC's land claims were not valid.

In November 1848, American residents of Lewis County held a meeting. They stated that land claims made by the Hudson's Bay Company or Puget Sound Agricultural Society for their workers were "null and void." They believed these claims were only valid if the workers no longer worked for the company and continued to live on the land. Despite these challenges, Roberts continued to lease the land from the PSAC until 1870.

Farm Managers