Joseph Kellogg facts for kids

Joseph Kellogg

Joseph Kellogg was a famous steamboat captain and a smart businessman in Portland, Oregon. He helped build many important things in early Oregon.

Early Life and Moving West

Joseph Kellogg was born in Canada on June 12, 1812. His family moved to New York and then to Ohio after the War of 1812. Joseph learned to be a millwright, someone who designs and builds mills.

In 1847, the Kellogg family decided to move to Oregon. They left Ohio in November with wagons pulled by horses. They traveled by steamboat to St. Louis, Missouri. From there, they drove to St. Joseph, Missouri and stayed there for the winter.

Journey to Oregon

In May, the Kellogg family joined a group of thirty wagons. They had covered wagons and all the supplies they needed for the long trip. They later traded their horses for oxen, which are strong animals often used for pulling wagons.

The group traveled almost twenty-five miles each day. They finally arrived in Milwaukie, Oregon on September 8, 1848. This was a huge journey across the country!

Building Oregon's Future

When they arrived in Oregon, Joseph Kellogg and other families claimed large pieces of land. Kellogg built Oregon's first commercial flour mill. He also built some of the very first sawmills.

Kellogg's land was next to Lot Whitcomb in Milwaukie. Kellogg, Whitcomb, and William Torrence planned the town of Milwaukie. They hoped it would become the main city in Oregon.

In Milwaukie, Kellogg built a sawmill and a schooner, which is a type of sailing ship. They loaded the schooner with food from nearby farms. Then, they sailed it to California and sold both the ship and its cargo.

With the money, they bought a brig called the Forest. They used this ship to carry lumber between Oregon and California. Lumber was very valuable in California at that time. Soon, they earned enough money to buy another ship, the bark Louisiana. They turned it into a steamship.

Building the Lot Whitcomb Steamboat

The Lot Whitcomb, the first steamboat built by Joseph Kellogg

In 1850, Kellogg and his partners started building a sidewheel steamer called the Lot Whitcomb. This was one of the very first large steam-powered boats built in Oregon. They launched it on Christmas Day, December 25, 1850.

Joseph Kellogg was one of the owners of the boat and the town of Milwaukie. The Lot Whitcomb sailed between Milwaukie and Astoria for several years. Later, they sold it in San Francisco.

Kellogg then left that partnership. He teamed up with Bradbury and Eddy to build the Standard Flour Mills. For many years, these were the biggest flour mills in Oregon.

Working with People's Transportation Company

The Onward steamboat, built by Joseph Kellogg, at Salem during the flood of 1861

In 1863, Kellogg built another steamboat called the Senator. He sold it to the People's Transportation Company. In 1864, Kellogg became an owner of this company.

In 1867, Kellogg oversaw the building of a special basin above Willamette Falls. This made it much easier for boats to get around the falls on the Willamette River.

Kellogg also worked with Captain George A. Pease to navigate the Tualatin River for the first time with the steamboat Onward. They also built a canal connecting the Tualatin River to Sucker Lake. This allowed goods to be transported from the Tualatin River to Oswego and then to the Willamette River. Kellogg also helped plan the town of Oswego.

Later Business Ventures

In 1870, the People's Transportation Company was sold to Ben Holladay. Soon after, the Willamette Transportation Company was created. Joseph Kellogg became its vice-president and a director. Under his guidance, this company built the steamboats Governor Grover and Beaver.

Kellogg later sold his share in the Willamette Transportation Company. He started a new company with his brother, Jason, and his two sons. They built the steamboats Joseph Kellogg and Toledo.

These boats operated on the Columbia River, going to Washougal, Washington and the Cowlitz River. His sons, Captains Orrin and Charles H., commanded these boats. Their company, the Joseph Kellogg Transportation Company, became one of the most successful steamboat lines on the Columbia River.

Family and Legacy

Joseph Kellogg's son, Charles H. Kellogg, also became a successful steamboat captain. Sadly, he passed away before his father in 1889. His other son, Orrin, lived much longer and was also a successful captain.

Joseph Kellogg passed away on November 30, 1903, at the age of 91. He was the oldest river pilot at the time of his death. He is buried at Greenwood Hills Cemetery in Portland, Oregon, with his wife Estella. Kellogg was also a well-known Mason.