Biography of Robert Wilson Morrison, Clatsop Co., Oregon
Surnames: Morrison

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History of the Pioneer Presbyterian Church of Clatsop Plains
undated, but early. Typewritten

Robert Wilson Morrison

Robert Morrison was a popular and trusted Missouri pioner. He owned a godo
productive farm, but unlike many of his neighbors, believed that slavery was
morally wrong. With no labor costs to pay, the slave operated farms prospered
because their owners could afford to hold their crops when the market was
down. Men like Morrison had to seel to meet their obligations. To them,
Oregon, where there were no slaves and eveyr man started even, seemed to be
the answer to their problem.

Nancy Morrison did not think very much of the idea of moving, but since
"Wilson desired it" she agreed to the sale of their farm and set about making
the necessary preparations for the journey "West" as cheerfully and thoroughly
as thugh it were her heart's desire. She spent many hours in the loom house
weaving cloth for clothes for the entire family to wear on the long and ardous
journey ahead of them. The job completed, she carefully packed some raw wool,
a packet of flax seed and her spinning wheel.

With the proceeds from the sale of the farm, Robert purchaseda better than
average trail outfit - sturdy, well-provisioned wagons and fat, healthy
livestock. He was elected as one of the three captains of their wagon train,
thus becoming responsible for its safety. Much of his time was spent riding
ahead scouting for grass, water and easier, less hazardous routes to travel.
Hostile indians were a constant menace for by this time they had come to
realize that the ever increasing flow of wagons wa a threat to their very
survival. They had watched the grass being trampled by the white man's cattle
and the buffalo scattered and destroyed. It was not surprising that they
struck back by running off the white man's stock and attacked his wagons in a
futile attempt to halt the tide of destruction and disease that followed in
their wake.

In addition to skirmishes with the indians, the pioneers of '44 were almost
wiped out when they were caught in the path of a buffalo stamped which
fortunately was diverted before it reached the train.

Besides taking care of her own family, Nancy Morrison was an "angel of mercy"
to the other membrs of the train. She nursed the sick, shared their food with
those families who ran out, comforted the dying, and prepared their bodies for
burial. When Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sager both died on the journey, she saw to it
that their six children were provided for and finally left safely at the
Whitman Mission.

Long before they reached the final perils of the descent of the Columbia,
their clothes were worn out, their food supply almost exhausted, and their
daughters forced to walk or ride horseback to conserve the waning strength of
their teams. All that remained intact was their courage and faith.

The Morrison family arrived on Clatsop Plains in 1845 and filed a donation
claim for 640 acres of land. The family lived with Solomon Smith until Robert
could build a house out of twelve inch planks. This single wall, rough lumber
home was destroyed by fire in 1859. A second house was built in 1860. Located
on the east side of the highway, south of the church, it is occupied by a
granddaughter, Mrs. Harold Tagg. Naturally, over the years, it has changed
with additions and improvements.

Mr. Morrison planted the flax seed his wife had brought across the plains, so
that once again she could put her spinning wheeler into operation. He also
built a sawmill on Wahanna Creek in 1846 and, in addition, provided a log
building for Clatsop County's first school, the third in Orego. Solomon Smith
was the teacher and his wife the interpreter for Indian children.