Biography of John Mc Loughlin, 1899, State of Oregon
Surnames: McLoughlin, Rae, McKay, Wygant, Myrick

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - December 2001
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Oregon Native Son; Vol. 1, May 1899, page 43

RD. JOHN MC LOUGHLIN

Father Mc Loughlin has been termed and well called the first real governor of
Oregon. As chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company west of the Rockies, he
was more than this he was autocrat. He was of the great in many ways - large
physically, broad of mind and in ideas, and, above all, there was no estimate
of his tenderness and goodness of heart. He was nearly 40 years among us, and
during that time was the peer of all others here. The Indians called him the
"whiteheaded eagle," and the whites went to him as a father in their troubles.
In a pathetic manuscript found among his papers published after his death, he
calls himself the father of Oregon; and the greater the lapse of time from its
writing the greater has become the idea that his claim was right and just. The
circumstances of his life may be briefly told. He was born in Canada in 1784
of Scotch parents, although his mother, by some, is said to have been French.

He was employed in early manhood as a physician by the Northwest Fur Company,
and was stationed for a time at their posts in Canada. On the consolidation of
this company with that of the Hudson's Bay Company he was selected to come
West and take full charge of the interests of this great corporation. In 1824,
together with his family and a retinue of the company's servants, he came
overland to his post. On his arrival at Astoria, and on looking around the
country he concluded that the site where Vancouver, Wash., now stands would be
a better location than Astoria for a post, and to such place he removed and
established himself, making it the headquarters of the company west of the
Rockies. During all the years of his administration as chief factor of the
company he served his employers with marked fidelity, ability and an accurate
and broad appreciation of his duties as a Christian. His conduct to the early
American settlers was admirably humane, and showed that the claims of humanity
outweighed mere business considerations of every degree. It may be well enough
imagined that the efforts and scenes through which he passed from 1840 to 1847
were exceedingly harassing. Then began the decline of his personal control
over this country, which, during the long time, he had made exclusive. The
Americans first broke the arch of his authority, and his humane and benevolent
treatment of these Americans, who could brook no government except their own,
soon drew upon him the censure of the English, and he was rebuked by his
employers for his toleration and kindness, when he resigned the trust he had
so faithfully, honestly and capably administered. After severing his
connection therewith he moved to the falls of the Willamette, and there
settled upon a claim, founding Oregon City thereon, and some 300 of its lots
were by him donated to schools, churches and private parties. He also became
an American citizen, but the change of affairs did not bring cessation of
trouble. He was persecuted by men claiming the knowledge of Christian
experience, defamed by designing politicians and knowingly misrepresented at
Washington as a British intriguer, until be was unjustly deprived of the
greater portion of his land claim. Subsequent examination into the true status
of the case brought conclusive proof that he had been wronged, and to the
credit of the state the wrong done was, in part, righted before his death. The
wreck of his former influence, the unjust condemnation passed upon him and
false accusations made concerning him, the loss of his fortune and the
ingratitude of those he had befriended in hours of starvation and need,
embittered his declining years. After a sorrowful experience of man's
ingratitude to man, be closed his eyes in death on the 3d of September, 1857,
aged 73. Beneath the morning shadow of the old gray cliffs that overlook the,
pioneer town of the Anglo-American on the Pacific, which he himself founded -
Oregon City - he lies at rest and peace within the ever-moaning sound of the
mighty cataract of the Willamette. Dr. Mc Laughlin was a grand old man, the
father of Oregon. His depth of discernment, force of will, strict integrity
and his abounding sense of humanity and gentleness gave him a touch of
greatness. Oregon has most fittingly placed in the statehouse along with its
various governors an oil painting of him, and should monuments ever be erected
to the memory of its dead, the first to be raised should be in his honor. The
wife of the doctor was the widow of Alexander McKay, who lost his life on the
ill-fated Tonquin, the loss of which being due to Indian treachery and lust
for greed. By this union three sons and one daughter were born, the latter,
Mrs. Eloise Mc Loughlin Rae, being the mother of Mrs. Theodore Wygant and Mrs.
Joseph Myrick, of Portland.