July 09 GYR Challenge: Find a Marker & The Obit

THE OLDEST PIONEER. DEATH OF JAMES TERWILLIGER WHO CAME TO PORTLAND IN 1845.

James Terwilliger Monument, Riverview Cemetery, Portland Oregon

James Terwilliger b.1809
Portland, Oregon

JAMES TERWILLIGER is dead. The oldest pioneer citizen of Portland passed away peacefully at his residence, in this city, yesterday. At his age of 84 years he was until yesterday the only person living here who has had the pleasure of watching the progress this city has made since the first house on the banks of the Willamette river at this point, was erected. JAMES TERWILLIGER built that house-if it might be called such, for in reality it was but a log cabin. It was in the autumn of 1845. He had crossed the plains from Illinois, and being 36 years of age, strong and hearty, was able to withstand the hardships that proved fatal to many of the ambitious ones who undertook such a journey.

Arriving on the coast, he found the most likely spot for a residence on the banks of the Willamette, where he, with the assistance of the crew from the vessel Toulon, which had made its way up here, put up his cabin. He shortly afterwards started a blacksmith shop, and for a few years was engaged in welding and hammering.

James Terwilliger Monument

In the spring of 1848 he married a widow, Mrs. Philinda Green, and they some time afterward took up a donation claim of 630 acres near this city. They had two children Mary, who died at the age of 12 years and Julia Viola, who is now the wife of T.M. Richardson, a prominent capitalist of this city.
On October 19, 1873, Mrs Terwilliger died, and her husband has since that time lived at the old home, highly respected and honored. His name has been brought into considerable prominence lately in connection with the Green vs. Terwilliger will case, which was decided in favor of the plaintiff by Judge Hawley in the United States court last Monday.

There is only one man now living who came to Portland at as early date as Mr. Terwilliger, and he is Benjamin Stark, who now resides in New London, Conn. Captain G.H. Flanders is the next oldest pioneer, he having arrived in
1849.

Arrangements for the funeral have not yet made, but will be largely attended by friends, who have always held the old pioneer in the highest esteem.

Source:
19th Century U.S. Newspapers. This obituary published in:
Portland, Oregon
September 02, 1892
Page 8;issue 10,050; column B
Category: News
Headline: The oldest pioneer Death of James Terwilliger, who came to Portland in 1845

James Terwilliger Monument, Riverview Cemetery, Portland Oregon

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Tags: blog carnival, grave yard rabit, james terwilliger, obituary, oregon pioneer

Cemeteries | admin | June 8, 2009 5:13 pm

2 Comments

By Judith Richards Shubert, July 1, 2009 @ 8:37 pm

I very much enjoyed reading about Mr. Terwilliger. His monument is a beautiful one and it sounds like he had many, many friends.

I look forward to reading more of your blog, as I’ve just now found it with your Graveyard Rabbit Carnival submission.
By Kathy, July 22, 2009 @ 9:54 am

They sure knew how to write an obit back then, didn’t they? “JAMES TERWILLIGER is dead.” You can’t help but keep reading! Thank you for sharing!