Everything about Star Of Oregon Event totally explained
The
Star of Oregon episode of
American history began in 1840 and ended in 1843. This enterprise by pioneers in the
Willamette Valley of present-day
Oregon consisted of building a ship they named
Star of Oregon and then sailing it to
California in order to bring back cattle to
Oregon Country. The group was led by
Joseph Gale and received assistance from
Captain Wilkes of the
United States Navy prior to setting sail on the open ocean. These pioneers were able to procure nearly 4,000 head of cattle, sheep, and horses combined.
Background
In 1837 the
Willamette Cattle Company had brought over 600 head of cattle to Oregon via California. Prior to this, virtually all cattle in the region were owned by the
Hudson's Bay Company (HBC).
While the events of 1837 had broken the HBC’s monopoly, much of the cattle were owned by a select few such as
Ewing Young,
John McLoughlin, and the
Methodist Mission.
The independent settlers of the Willamette Valley were left in the same situation as before, so they met and came up with a plan to alleviate their need for cattle.
As the area lacked many industries at the time, supplies were difficult to acquire. This was made more difficult when the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Doctor John McLoughlin denied the shipbuilders the ability to purchase supplies from
Fort Vancouver. However, Limantour didn't have cattle, but
General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, Commander General of California, did have the cattle.
Vallejo owned a substantial rancho in
Sonoma with plenty of cattle.
So in the deal Vallejo received merchandise from Limantour, the Oregonians received 350 head of cattle from Vallejo, and Limantour got the ship.
The vessel was then renamed the
Jóven Fanita in honor of General Vallejo’s seven year old daughter, Epifania.
However, the Oregon crew didn't immediately head back north, as Gale thought it best to wait the winter out and attempt to recruit more people for the overland journey.
Kilbourne then dropped out and decided to stay.
Meanwhile, Gale sent out several circulars to attempt to recruit more people to settle in Oregon.
Once spring came and the crew gathered at Cash Creek there were now a total of 42 people ready to head north to
Oregon Country.
This party started north with 1,250 head of cattle, 600 horses and mules, and 3,000 sheep.
The journey overland took 75 days, and in mid May
1843, they arrived back in the
Willamette Valley of the Oregon Country.
Legacy
The enterprise brought the first Spanish merino sheep to Oregon, and allowed for greater economic independence of the pioneers.
Gale was then elected to the
provisional government of Oregon a few months later as one of three members of the
executive committee at the
Champoeg Meetings.
Participants
Shipbuilding
Those participating in the construction of the vessel:
Journey
Known participants: Joseph Gale, John Canan, Pleasant Armstrong, Ralph Kilbourne, Jacob Green.
Passenger: Charles PfeffenhauserFurther Information
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