From the OREGONIAN newspaper of December 10, 1888
In the Oregonian of November 22 was published the transcript of an early assessment roll, evidently made in 1842 or 1843. It was furnished by J. Henry Brown of this city, who receied it from some unknown source.
Dr. Wm. C. McKay of Pendleton, who was born in Astoria in 1821 recognized the names of many of which were grossly misspelled in the original document. He was intimately acquainted with nearly all whose names are mentioned and has furnished the following as a complete and correct list:
Wm. McCarty, "Elias Brandy Wine", came from California with Ewing Young in 1835,
Charles Campo, Rocky mountain trapper; St. Louis, Frenchman, 1840
Felix Hathaway, ship carpenter, came from the American coasting brig Owalhe, Capt. Domenas, 1832,
Daniel Girlman
Jeff Brown, a native of Massachusetts; California, 1830
George W. LeBriton, of Newburyport, Mass, came with Capt. John H. Couch in the ship Chenomas, 1812,
Charles Roe, of New York City, came here from California, 1840. He was hanged at Salem for the murder of his wife,
Andre Lonetain, Hudson Bay Company employee; Canada
John Baptiste l'alnoult, Hudson Bay Company; Canada, 1830. He opened a farm and raised the first fruit trees in Oregon, at the point now known as Davidson's Landing, Marion county.
Louis LaBronte, Sr., came from Canada with John Jacob Asstor's expedition, in the ship Tonquin, 1812. He helped to build Astoria.
Louis LaBronte Jr.; born Oregon, 1822.
Michell LaFramboise came with the Astor expedition and helped to build Astoria. He was appointed to the rank of postmaster in the service of the Hudson Bay Company, as leader of the expedition, and became the only real Chinook interpreter.
Johnson (negro). I have no recollection of him.
The Catholic church farm had several Canadian employees.
Francois Rivet came across the country with Lewis and Clark and settled with the Fintheads a Jacco prairie. He became a noted and useful man and by marriage with the chief's daughter, exerted great influence over the tribe and was for a long time trader for the Northwest and Hudson Bay companies.
Antoine Rivet, son of Francois Rivet, was born at Jacco prairie. He was a captain of Company K, in the Yakamah war and rendered good service.
Joseph Rivet, born at Colbitt, W.T.
John B. Duboy came across the plains with Wilson P. Hunt and Donald McKenzie. He was one of the three men left on Snake river to perish; two reached the Columbia river.Sidney Smith, a Canadian, came from Peoria, Ill, in 1830, and was one of the first immigrants to arrive that year.
Ewing Young, a Kentuckian, came from California with a band of horses in 1835.
Sumner; I did not know him.
Benjamin Williams, a native of Ireland, came with Young in 1835.
Pierre Servant, H.B.Co. employee; Canada.
Joseph Frederick de Des l'aur; same
Joseph Rock Bruin; same
Quaintal and bolsvair; same
Andre Chalefoux; a noted guide to the Hudson Bay Co. He made a yearly trip across the Rocky mountains and back.
Adolph Chamberlain, H.B. Co.; Canada. He came to Oregon in 1842 with Dr. White, Medorem Crawford, F.X. Matthieu and others.
J.B. Pichette, a noted Rocky mountain trapper; Canada.
Francois Lavieur, H.B.Co; Canada
Joseph Pain; same
Tossain Poirrier; same
Joseph Covnayer; same
Pierre Stanislaus, with Ewing Young from California; French.
O. DuBar, ---
Chas. Laundray, H.B. Co.; Canada
Eusta Rochon; same
Andre Lachapelle; same. A blacksmith at Vancouver (NOTE: Not Vancouver in Canada which didn't exist until the 1870s)
Francois Vivette; same. A tinsmith at Vancouver (see above note)
Francois Barnier, a Rocky mountain trapper; St. Louis
Andre Picard, H. B. Co.; Canada
Baptiste DeGear, a Rocky mountain trapper; St. Louis
Jeremiah Harrigan
David Donpierre, Hudson Bay Company; Canada
Lewis Ossain, same
Baptiste Obichon, same
F. Vandall, same
Pierre Roy, same
Joseph Dubois, same
Joseph Gerrain, same
Francois DeLone, same
Alexander Saunders, same
Noye Lone, same
Joseph Raymond, immigrant; Canada
Thomas J. Hubbard, born at Hoboken N.J., and came with Capt. N. Wyeth in 1831. He was one of the party who first brought cattle from California
John Hofstator, immigrant; 1842
Pierr Coutier, immigrant; Canada
Baptiste Bronsain
Baptist Duchares, a Rocky mountain trapper; St. Louis
Gedion Senecal, same
Joseph Gale, was a native of Virginia and was a Rocky mountain trapper. He came from California with Ewing Young, and was one of the men who built the first vessel in Oregon. It was a schooner called the Oregon and was launched at Portland. Gale commanded the vessel on a trip to California. Gale was one of the provisional triumvirate governors of Oregon.
John Quannan, a trapper, came with Young.
George Gay, an English adventurer, came from California. He and Dr. Bailey, John Howard and others had trouble with the Rogue River Indians, and two of the whites were killed. He became quite noted and amassed a fortune in cattle and horses.
John Turner was a trapper and came to Oregon with Jedediah Smith, an American fur trader. The party was attacked by the Umpqua Indians, on Umpqua river, below Winchester, and all were killed except Smith, Turner and Black, who made their way to Fort Vancouver separately. Turner went with McLeod & McKay's trapping expedition to California and afterward lived in Oregon as a trapper.
J. Vandercott
Pierre Depeau, Hudson Bay Colk Canada
Nicholas Montour, same
Francois Gaunye, same
Peree Minard, same
Charles Rondo, same
Pierre Larocque, same
Jain Gangrais, same
Thomas Molson, a Canadian, came for St. Louis
Pierre J. Umphraville, an Oregonian, was the discoverer of the Colville gold mine in 1854 or 1855.
Antoine Bonnefaut, a Rocky mountain trapper, came from Canada.
George Davis came from St. Louis in 1842.
John Larrison was a native of Virginia, a trapper and arrived in 1810.
J.B. McKay Depotz was a noted hunter and trapper, and was born and raised in Manitoba. He was one of those who came to Fort Vancouver from Northern California after horses. The McLeod & McKay party lost all their horses in a snowstorm on McLeod river, east of Chasty mountain.
P. Lapratt, Hudson Bay Company, Canada
Joseph Gervais, Sr., crossed the plains with Hunt and McKenzie in 1812, and was connected with John Jacob Astor's company. The town of Gervais was named after hi.
Joseph Gervais, Jr., born in Oregon.
John B. Topain was a noted interpreter at Walla Walla long ago. He married the celebrated Madame Dorion, whose husband Pierre, while crossing the plains with the Hunt and McKenzie party, was killed by Snake Indians near where Huntingdon now stands. Mrs. Dorion and her two children excaped to the Columbia river.
John Baptiste Cobain is the only person on this list now (1888) living. He must have reached Vancouver about 1832, as I recollect his arrival with others on the yearly Hudson Bay express from Canada.