Robert Crouch Kinney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Crouch Kinney
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| Delegate to the Oregon Constitutional Convention | |
| In office 1857 |
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| Constituency | Yamhill County |
| Member of the Oregon Territorial Legislature | |
| In office 1849 and 1851 |
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| Constituency | Yamhill County |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 4, 1813 Belleville, Illinois |
| Died | March 2, 1875 (aged 61) Salem, Oregon |
| Resting place | Salem Pioneer Cemetery |
| Political party | Anti-Democrat |
| Spouse | Eliza Bigelow Kinney |
Robert Crouch Kinney (born July 4, 1813 – died March 2, 1875) was an important businessman and politician in the early days of Oregon. He was born in Illinois and helped start the town of Muscatine, Iowa before moving west. Robert Kinney traveled the famous Oregon Trail to settle in what would become Oregon. There, he became well-known in the milling business. He also served in the government of the Oregon Territory and helped create Oregon's first constitution.
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Early Life and Family
Robert Kinney was born on July 4, 1813, in Belleville, Illinois. This town is close to St. Louis, Missouri. His parents were Samuel and Polly Kinney. Robert grew up in Illinois and went to local schools in Springfield, Illinois.
In 1833, Robert married Eliza Bigelow. They had eleven children together, and eight of them lived to be adults. Their children included Mary Jane, Albert William, Augustus Crouch, Marshall Johnson, Eliza Lee, Alfred Coleman, Josephine Elarena, and William Sylvester.
The same year they got married, Robert and Eliza moved to what is now Iowa. They helped start a town called Bloomington, which is now known as Muscatine. This town was located along the Mississippi River. Kinney built a hotel and a dock there. He also ran a boat that traveled down the river to St. Louis. Later, he got into the milling business, running both a sawmill and a flour mill.
Moving West to Oregon
In 1847, Robert Kinney and his family, along with his brother Samuel, traveled west. They went on the long and challenging Oregon Trail. Their wagon train included another famous pioneer, Joel Palmer. Robert Kinney settled on a piece of land in the Yamhill District of the Oregon Country. This area was near the town of Lafayette.
The next year, this region became the Oregon Territory. In 1850, a law called the Donation Land Claim Act helped settlers officially own their land. Kinney farmed his 640-acre land in the Chehalem Valley. He also grew fruit in his orchards. In 1848, Kinney left Oregon for a short time to join the California Gold Rush. However, he returned the next year without becoming rich.
Business Success in Oregon
After farming for ten years, Robert Kinney moved to McMinnville in 1858. The next year, 1859, he bought a flour mill from William Newby, who founded the town. Kinney's business grew even more. In 1862, he bought the Brooklyn flour mill in Portland. Then, in 1868, he invested in a wool mill in Salem.
He moved his family to Salem and started running the flour mill part of the business, which was called the Salem Milling Company. This company became very successful. It opened offices in San Francisco, Portland, and even England. At one point, the company milled a quarter of all the grain grown in Oregon! Kinney's company was also the first to ship flour from Portland all the way to Liverpool, England, and to many other ports around the world.
Political Life
Robert Kinney was involved in politics from early on. In 1849, he was chosen to represent Yamhill County in the very first Oregon Territorial Legislature. This was the government for the Oregon Territory before it became a state. After taking a break in 1850, he returned in 1851 to represent Yamhill County again.
In 1857, Kinney was elected as a delegate for Yamhill County to the Oregon Constitutional Convention. This important meeting took place in Salem in September and October. The goal was to create the first constitution for Oregon. This document would help Oregon become a state. Kinney believed that new states should not allow slavery. He was against the Democratic party at the time. Even though he voted against the final constitution, it was approved. Oregon officially became a state in 1859.
Later Life and Legacy
Some of Robert Kinney's sons joined him in the milling business. For example, his son Marshall managed the San Francisco office. Kinney also started a livestock business. He had a large ranch in Eastern Oregon near Heppner, where he raised sheep.
Robert Crouch Kinney passed away in Salem on March 2, 1875. He was 61 years old. He was buried at the Salem Pioneer Cemetery.
