Thomas J. Farnham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Jefferson Farnham
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| Born | 1804 Vermont or Maine |
| Died | September 13, 1848 San Francisco, California |
| Occupation | Explorer, writer |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | Mid-19th century |
| Genre | American West |
Thomas Jefferson Farnham (1804–1848) was an explorer and writer. He lived in the first half of the 1800s. He traveled across the American West. During his journeys, he met a missionary named Jason Lee. Later, Farnham led a group of people in wagons on the famous Oregon Trail. While he was in the Oregon Country, he wrote an important request. This request asked the United States government to protect the region. Many settlers from the U.S. who lived there signed his request.
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Early Adventures of Thomas Farnham
Thomas Farnham was born in 1804. He was born in New England, either in Vermont or what is now the state of Maine. He went to school at Phillips Academy, Andover. After school, he moved to Peoria, Illinois. There, he became a lawyer, which is someone who helps people with legal matters.
In 1836, Farnham married Eliza Woodson Burhams. They had three children together. In 1839, he heard a talk by Jason Lee. Lee spoke about Oregon and his mission there. Lee's mission aimed to teach and help the Native Americans in the Willamette Valley. At that time, Lee was looking for more people to join his mission.
After hearing Lee's talk, Farnham decided to join the Peoria Party. This group was heading to Oregon. Farnham became the captain of the group, which had 19 members. The men from Peoria called themselves the Oregon Dragoons. Mrs. Farnham gave them a special flag. The flag had their motto on it: "OREGON or the GRAVE."
Exploring the American West
Journey on the Oregon Trail
Captain Farnham and the Oregon Dragoons began their journey on the Oregon Trail. They traveled a long way to Fort Vancouver. This fort was located along the Columbia River. When they arrived, only five of the original 19 people were still with the group. The other members had left the party along the way.
While in the Oregon region, Farnham wrote a special request for the American settlers. Many U.S. pioneers signed this document. It asked the federal government to take control of the area. This was to protect Americans and their interests there. At that time, no single country fully controlled the region. Both the British and Americans had people and businesses there.
Travels to California
After his time in the Willamette Valley, Thomas Farnham left. He sailed to the Sandwich Islands, which are now called Hawaii. He then returned to the mainland. He landed in Monterey, which was the capital of Alta California.
In 1841, Farnham helped free a group of people. These people were Americans, British, and Californios (people of Spanish or Mexican heritage living in California). They had been arrested in Alta California in 1840. They were sent by ship to San Blas and then overland to a prison in Tepic. The governor, Juan Alvarado, and military leader Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo had accused these men of planning a revolt. This event was known as the Graham Affair.
During the Graham Affair, Farnham traveled to San Blas. He arrived on May 16, 1840. Then he went to Tepic to meet the prisoners. After the prisoners were released, Farnham continued his journey across Mexico to New Orleans. In 1841, he moved to New York City. He then lived in Wisconsin for a short time. Farnham later moved to Alton, Illinois. In 1846, he moved back to California. He passed away in San Francisco, California, on September 13, 1848. His wife, Eliza, moved to Santa Cruz, California. She became a leading voice against slavery, a writer, and an early supporter of women's rights.
Writings by Thomas Farnham
Thomas Farnham wrote several books about his travels and observations. These books helped people learn about the American West and other places he visited.
- Travels in Oregon Territory (1842)
- Travels in the Great Western Prairies (1843)
- Travels in the Californias and Scenes in the Pacific (1844)
- A Memoir of the Northwest Boundary-Line (1845)
- Mexico, its Geography, People, and Institutions (1846)
