Biography of Seth Pope, 1899, State of Oregon
Surnames: Pope

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be
reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other
organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use
this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor,
or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the
listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter
has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives
(http://files.usgwarchives.net) to store the file permanently for free
access and not to be removed separately without written permission.
************************************************************************
Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - January 2002
************************************************************************
Oregon Native Son, Vol. 1, June 1899, page 114

CAPT. SETH POPE.
A lineal descendant of ancestors who settled at Plymouth and Sandwich soon
after the Pilgrim Fathers came in 1620, was born in Fairhaven, Mass., October
6, 1803. His father and grandfather both took part in the war of the
Revolution, and were present at the battle of Bunker Hill. His oldest brother
also served in the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch began to follow the
sea in 1817, and soon arrived at the head of his profession, commanding ships
in the European and South American trade. Later he owned his own vessels, and,
engaged in the West India trade, visiting all but three of the inhabited
islands. On the breaking out of the California fever, he loaded his brig, the
Nonpareil, and sailed from New Bedford, January 10, 1850, for San Francisco,
arriving in June. Disposing of most of his cargo, he took passengers and
reight for the Columbia river, arriving at Astoria about October 1; proceeding
up the river to St. Helens, he sent freight and passengers in small boats to
Oregon City. He then erected the first frame house at St. Helens, from
material brought by him around the Horn, and began a general merchandise
business, keeping his brig in the lumber trade, in the command of W. F.
Brewer, whenever he remained ashore. He finally sold his vessel in 1854,
taking up a claim near St. Helens. He was the first postmaster at that place,
and during the following years served as county judge for a period of 12
years. His health becoming impaired, he removed to Portland in 1883, to be
near his son, Seth L. Pope, and died there July 23, 1886, and was buried in
Riverview cemetery.

Captain Pope married when a young man, and the union was blessed with a family
of two sons - Seth L. Pope and William H. Pope both of whom now reside in
Portland; both are well known and leading and honorable citizens. Mrs. Pope
died when the youngest son, William H., was about three years of age.