Star of Oregon (event) facts for kids
| Date | 1840 to 1843 |
|---|---|
| Location | Oregon Country North America |
| Participants | Joseph Gale Thomas J. Hubbard Josiah Lamberson Parrish |
The Star of Oregon was an exciting adventure in American history, happening between 1840 and 1843. It was a big project started by pioneers living in the Willamette Valley in what is now Oregon. Their goal was to build a ship, call it the Star of Oregon, and then sail it all the way to California. Why? To bring back lots of cattle to the Oregon Country! A brave leader named Joseph Gale guided the group. They even got help from Captain Wilkes of the United States Navy before they set sail. In the end, these pioneers successfully brought back almost 4,000 animals, including cattle, sheep, and horses.
Contents
Why They Needed Cattle
Before 1837, most of the cattle in the Oregon area belonged to the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). This company was very powerful. In 1837, a group called the Willamette Cattle Company managed to bring over 600 cattle from California to Oregon. This helped break the HBC's control over cattle.
However, even after 1837, only a few people owned most of the cattle. Important figures like Ewing Young, John McLoughlin, and the Methodist Mission had many animals. This left the regular settlers in the Willamette Valley still needing cattle.
So, these independent settlers got together. They came up with a clever plan to get their own cattle. They decided to build their own ship. Then, they would sail it to California. Once there, they would trade the ship for cattle. Finally, they would drive the cattle overland back to Oregon. Joseph Gale, who was an experienced sailor, was asked to help with the project. He would also be the captain of the ship once it was built.
Building the Ship
Building the Star of Oregon started in 1840. The first location was Swan Island, which is now part of Portland, Oregon. A skilled ship's carpenter named Felix Hathaway led the construction.
On May 19, 1841, the ship was launched into the water. But Hathaway had already left the project because he wasn't getting paid. So, the construction moved upriver to Oak Island to finish the vessel.
Finding Supplies
It was hard to find supplies in the Oregon Country back then. There weren't many businesses or factories. Things got even tougher when Doctor John McLoughlin of the Hudson's Bay Company refused to sell supplies to the shipbuilders from Fort Vancouver. McLoughlin said he didn't think the boat would be safe enough to sail. He also worried that the owners might try to become pirates with the ship.
Because of this, the builders had to secretly get supplies from other settlers. The blacksmith from the Methodist Mission, Josiah Lamberson Parrish, made metal spikes for the ship. Another person, Thomas J. Hubbard, also made spikes.
Help from Captain Wilkes
As the ship got closer to being finished, the builders needed even more materials. Luckily, in the summer of 1841, Captain Wilkes of the United States Navy arrived. He was part of the United States Exploring Expedition. While he was exploring inland, he heard about the ship being built and the pioneers' plans.
Captain Wilkes convinced McLoughlin to change his mind about selling supplies. Wilkes even offered to pay for any supplies the Americans couldn't buy themselves. After this, McLoughlin finally allowed the shipbuilders to buy the last items they needed, like canvas for sails and ropes for rigging.
Even with a ship ready to sail, the builders needed official papers. These papers would allow them to travel freely on the ocean. Again, Captain Wilkes helped them. But first, he tested Captain Gale's sailing and navigation skills. Gale passed the test! Wilkes then gave the crew official papers, a compass, a kedge anchor (a small anchor), and an American flag.
As October approached, the builders stopped for the winter. The next year, 1842, the ship was finally completed in August. Captain Gale then started training his crew as they sailed down the Willamette River.
Setting Sail
They named their finished ship the Star of Oregon. The ship and crew left the Willamette River on August 29, 1842, sailing past Fort Vancouver. As the ship moved down the Columbia River, Captain Gale kept training his crew.
On September 12, the Star of Oregon left the Columbia River and entered the wide-open ocean. The day before, Gale had met with Captain John H. Couch on Couch's ship, the Chenamus. Captain Couch offered Gale advice and even led the way out of the river's mouth.
What Happened Next
The Star of Oregon adventure brought the first Spanish merino sheep to Oregon. It also helped the pioneers become more independent economically. This meant they didn't have to rely as much on others for their needs.
A few months later, Joseph Gale was elected to the provisional government of Oregon. This was an early form of government for the area. He became one of three members of the executive committee at the Champoeg Meetings.
Who Was Involved
Building the Ship
These people helped build the Star of Oregon:
- Known participants: George Davis, Henry Wood, Joseph Gale, Felix Hathaway, John Canan, Pleasant Armstrong, Ralph Kilbourne, Jacob Green
The Journey
These people were part of the sailing trip:
- Known participants: Joseph Gale, John Canan, Pleasant Armstrong, Ralph Kilbourne, Jacob Green.
- Passenger: Charles Pfeffenhauser
