Letitia Carson facts for kids
Letitia Carson was a brave pioneer who lived in Oregon a long time ago. She was one of the very first African Americans recorded as living in Oregon by the U.S. government. What's even more amazing is that she was the only Black woman to successfully claim land in Oregon under a special law called the Homestead Act of 1862. Her inspiring life story even became a book called A Light In The Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick.
Contents
Letitia Carson's Early Life
Letitia Carson was born around 1814 in Kentucky. At that time, she was born into slavery. We don't know much about her early years, but we do know that by 1845, she had moved to Missouri. It's thought that she worked on farms, possibly with hemp or tobacco plants. She might have worked in the fields or inside a house. She may have also attended church services.
Moving to Oregon
In 1845, Letitia started a long, six-month journey on the Oregon Trail. She traveled with David Carson, an Irish immigrant who owned land. It's not clear if David ever enslaved Letitia. However, by the time they began their trip to Oregon, he saw her as a free person. On June 9, 1845, while on the trail, Letitia gave birth to their daughter, Martha Jane.
When they arrived in Oregon, the Carsons claimed a large piece of land. It was 640 acres in a place called Soap Creek Valley, which is now in Benton County, Oregon. In 1850, the government cut their land claim in half to 320 acres. This happened because David and Letitia could not legally marry at that time, as Letitia was Black. Also, Black people were not allowed to claim land in Oregon back then. In 1849, Letitia gave birth to their son, Adam Andrew Jackson. The 1850 U.S. Census shows that Letitia, David, and their two children lived in Benton, Oregon Territory.
Fighting for Land Rights
In September 1852, David Carson sadly passed away. After his death, Letitia and her children were left out of his will. Instead, a wealthy white neighbor named Greenberry Smith was put in charge of David's property. Smith claimed that Letitia and the children were enslaved. He said they were "property" themselves and could not inherit anything.
To protect her children, Letitia went to court. She sued Smith to get a fair share of David's property. She said that David had promised to give her all his property if he died. Even though this promise was not written down, she fought for it. She asked the court for $7,450 for her seven years of hard work on the land. She also wanted the value of the animals and other things she believed were hers.
On May 12, 1855, a jury in Benton County awarded Letitia $300. She also received $229.50 to pay for her court costs. Later, on October 25, 1856, a federal court gave her $1399.75 for the loss of her cattle. Even though she won both lawsuits, the local newspapers at the time did not report on her victories.
After these trials, Letitia moved with her children to Douglas County, Oregon. She worked as a midwife, helping people give birth. She was well-known in the community. She is thought to have lived with the family of Hardy Eliff, working for them while also being a midwife.
In 1859, Oregon became a state. Its new constitution said that Black people could not move to Oregon. It also stopped Black residents from owning property, voting, or suing in court. However, things began to change in 1862. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act. This new law meant that people could claim land regardless of their race.
On June 17, 1863, Letitia Carson filed a claim for 160 acres of land. This was under the Homestead Act of 1862. She claimed land on South Myrtle Creek in Douglas County, Oregon. She was a widow and a single mother of two children. Her claim was officially approved on October 1, 1869, by President Ulysses S. Grant. Her claim was one of the first 71 homestead claims ever approved in the United States. She was also the only Black woman to successfully claim land in Oregon under this act.
Letitia spent the rest of her life on her land. A small stream near her property is now called Letitia Creek. She built a two-story house, a barn, and a smokehouse on her property. She also had a fruit orchard. In 1870, her property was valued at $1,000, and her personal belongings at $625. Letitia lived for another 20 years on her land. She passed away on February 2, 1888, at the age of 73 or 74. She was buried at Stephens Cemetery in Myrtle Creek, Oregon. A special apple tree, found on land owned by Oregon State University, was named the Letitia Carson Pioneer Apple Tree in her honor.
Letitia's Children
Letitia Carson had two children: Martha Jane and Adam Andrew Jackson.
Martha Jane Carson
Letitia's daughter, Martha Jane, moved to the Umatilla Indian Reservation in 1886. She had a daughter named Mary Alice Bingham in 1864. Martha later married Narcisse Lavadour in 1868. Narcisse's father worked for the Hudson's Bay Company, and his mother was from the Walla Walla tribe. Martha and Narcisse had ten more children. After Narcisse passed away in 1893, Martha married Charles Carpenter. She later divorced him in 1910. Martha Jane died on July 17, 1911, at age 66. She was buried in Umatilla County, Oregon.
Adam "Andrew Jackson" Carson
Letitia's son, Adam "Andrew Jackson," was a farmer in the Canyonville area. He was known for being a very skilled horse trainer. He never married and lived in Douglas County for most of his life. He passed away on September 14, 1922, at age 73. He was buried next to his mother at Stephens Cemetery in Myrtle Creek, Oregon.
Letitia Carson's Legacy
Letitia Carson's life story inspired the 2014 historical novel A Light In The Wilderness by Jane Kirkpatrick. The book tells about her relationship with David Carson, her journey to Oregon, and her important legal battles.
In 2021, an elementary school in Corvallis, Oregon, was renamed in honor of Letitia Carson. This shows how her strength and determination continue to inspire people today.
