O: Correspondence of S. R. Thurston, Nathaniel J. Wyeth, Robert C. Winthrop and Dr. John McLoughlin, published in the "Oregon Spectator," April 3, 1851 256 P: Letter from Rev. Vincent Snelling to Dr. John McLoughlin of March 9, 1852 262 Q: Excerpts from "The Hudson's Bay Company and Vancouver's Island" by James Edward Fitzgerald, published in London in 1849; and excerpt from "Ten Years in Oregon," by Rev. Daniel Lee and Rev. J. H. Frost, published in New York in 1844 264 R: Note on Authorship of "History of Oregon" in Bancroft's Works; and sources of information for this monograph 270 S: Excerpts from opinions of contemporaries of Dr. McLoughlin 272 INDEX 287 ILLUSTRATIONS PORTRAIT OF DR. JOHN McLOUGHLIN, taken from daguerreotype of 1856; from original belonging to Mrs. Josiah Myrick, Portland, Oregon _Frontispiece_ PORTRAIT OF DR. JOHN McLOUGHLIN, taken from miniature painted on ivory, 1838 or 1839; from original belonging to Mrs. James W. McL. Harvey, Mirabel, California. _facing_ p. 62 PREFACE This is a plain and simple narrative of the life of Dr. John McLoughlin, and of his noble career in the early history of Oregon. The writing of it is a labor of love on my part, for I am Oregon-born. A number of my near relatives came to Oregon overland in the immigrations of 1843, 1845, and 1846. My father and mother came overland in 1846. The one great theme of the Oregon pioneers was and still is Dr. McLoughlin and his humanity. I came so to know of him that I could almost believe I had known him personally. He, the father of Oregon, died September third, 1857, yet his memory is as much respected as though his death were of recent occurrence. In Oregon he will never be forgotten. He is known in Oregon by tradition as well as by history. His deeds are a part of the folk-lore of Oregon. His life is an essential part of the early, the heroic days of early Oregon. I know of him from the conversations of pioneers, who loved him, and from the numerous heart-felt expressions at the annual meetings of the Oregon pioneers, beginning with their first meeting. For years I have been collecting and reading books on early Oregon and the Pacific Northwest Coast. I am familiar with many letters and rare documents in the possession of the Oregon Historical Society relating to events in the time of the settlement of Oregon, and containing frequent references to Dr. McLoughlin.