With best wishes for your welfare, believe me to be,

To John McLeod, Esq.

Yours truly,

(Sgd) JOHN MCLOUGHLIN.

Norway House.

JESSE APPLEGATE

NEW LIGHT THROWN UPON HIS EARLY LIFE BY A Letter FROM J. M. PECK TO GEN. JOSEPH LANE, DELEGATE IN CONGRESS FROM OREGON.

"Rock Spring (Shiloh P. O.), Illinois, March 19, 1852. "Hon. Joseph Lane, Delegate from Oregon Territory,

"Sir:

Washington, D. C.,

"Apologies take up a gentleman's time and do no good. I write to make some special inquiries about one of your constituents, Jesse Applegate, esq., whose name I see in your communication to the President of December 12, 1851, as having done much to open up a new route for emigrants, explore the country, etc. My object is to learn what I can about his circumstances, his family, his habits, and his pursuits in life. The following brief sketch will explain my motives, and the reasons why I take this interest in his welfare. In 1827, 'Rock Spring Seminary' (from which subsequently originated Shurtleff College) was opened at this spot, and Mr. Applegate, then about 16 or 17 years of age, one of its first pupils. It is no disparagement to him, or any American, to state he was then a poor boy, had but a single dollar in his pocket, which he paid for entrance fee, and clothing barely sufficient for the winter. His chance for education had been poor-nothing superior to a 'back-woods' log-cabin, and a little instruction in the elements of an English common school education. He soon discovered unwearied industry, incessant application, and an inclination to learn beyond all ordinary students. One of the teachers was the late John Messenger, esq., an old surveyor, a most expert and self-taught mathematician, & a singular mechanical genius. He devoted extra attention to Applegate at night, and he made such proficiency that in the spring of 1828, the trustees made him a tutor, while he continued his lessons. On leaving the institution, after a period of some 12 or 15 months, he had paid all his expenses, procured clothing, and had some $8.00 or $10.00 left for pocket money. He then taught school in the interior of St. Louis county, and pursued his mathematical

studies with the late Col. Justus Post with the same untiring industry and success. After that he got a berth in the surveyor general's office in St. Louis, under the late Colonel McRae. Thus he arose step by step by the most singular industry, sobriety and good conduct. He had put on his hands and skill some of the most difficult contracts for surveying in Missouri, and I understood that before he left Missouri he was worth perhaps $10,000. I have thus given you a mere sketch to explain why I feel no ordinary interest in the prosperity of Mr. Applegate. There are many of his associates in school who often inquire about his welfare. Will you please communicate such facts as are convenient and furnish me his postoffice address. I beg leave to refer you to my friends, Col. W. H. Bissell and Gen. James Shields, from this county, for information concerning the individual who, though a stranger, presumes to address you in this manner. Respectfully yours,

J. M. PECK.

LETTER OF QUINCY ADAMS BROOKS

(Mr. Brooks was born of English ancestry in Washington County, Pa., May 22, 1826. His occupation was that of a lawyer. He started to Oregon from Pittsburg on April 2, 1851, crossing the plains, and arrived at Olympia, Oregon Territory, September 20th. He was Deputy Collector of Customs for the Puget Sound District in 1851-2; was the first Prosecuting Attorney north of the Columbia river, being appointed by Gov. John P. Gaines; was a member of the Convention at Monticello, Cowlitz county, which took the initial step towards creating the Territory of Washington, the enabling act being passed by Congress on March 2, 1853; was secretary to the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Oregon and Washington, 1856-1860; was married to Miss Lizzie Cranston, Salem, October 24, 1858; served as Assistant Quartermaster General of Oregon State troops in Modoc war of 1872-73; was Collector of Customs of Puget Sound District, 1886-89; died at Port Townsend, Washington, July 6, 1908. This letter was presented to the Oregon Historical Society by Mrs. Cornelia J. S. Greer, Dundee, Oregon, August 6. 1914.-George H. Himes, Assistant Secretary.)

Milwaukie, Oregon Territory, November 7, 1851.

Dear Ruter:

I suppose you were somewhat surprised at receiving such a miserable scroll of a letter as the one I sent you by the last mail. I sat down with the intention of writing letters to Mrs. Alden, Mr. Arthurs and yourself. I was disappointed as to the time the mail closed, and having commenced the other letters first, I was informed when I had nearly finished them, that the steamer was about to leave, and that I had only ten minutes to get my letters into the mail. I then determined at least to write you a note and enclose it in Mr. Arthur's letter; but when I was nearly done I remembered that that would be in violation of Post Office Laws, and concluded to give it a separate address. So much for my excuse. I presume you read my letter to Mr. Arthurs or to Mrs. Alden, and I shall not speak of any of the matters mentioned therein in this letter.

I promised to say something in my next letter about our trip. across the Plains. Do not suppose that I can give anything like a satisfactory account of it in a letter; to do justice to the subject, it would require a volume. I would like above all things to see you once more in propria persona, spend a few quiet evenings with you as of old, and then over our cigars I could give you a more satisfactory account than I possibly can in a letter. But as I must not hope for so great a pleasure for a long time to come, I must, in the meanwhile, content myself with saying something about it, however brief, meagre, and uninteresting it may be.

We crossed the Missouri River on the 4th day of May last, and then commenced our long solitary journey through the Indian Territory. Our company consisted of 18 wagons, about 150 head of cattle, 8 women with their children, and 40 men fit for duty. In my wagon there were 4 yoke of oxen, and 1 yoke of cows. My messmates were Dr. Eggers, a lawyer from Weston, Mo., by the name of Hardin, and our Dutch driver, Shadel. Mr. Cartwright and I purchased a horse in partnership, intending to use him jointly. Soon after we had started, however, Mr. C.'s feet became sore by walking, and he wished me to part with my interest in the horse so that he might ride all the time. To accommodate Mr. C. I let him have the horse, expecting to be able to get one on the route from the Indians or traders; in this, however, I was disappointed, and was compelled to take it on foot to Green River, a distance of 1200 miles.

The first river we came to was the Big Blue; this we found so swollen that it was impossible to ford it. To work we all went, cutting down trees and digging out canoes, and in two days we got safely across, taking our wagons and provisions in two canoes lashed together, and swimming our horses and cattle.

Soon after we crossed this river we had a terrible stampede. A stampede is a sudden and unaccountable panic taken by the cattle and horses, in which they become unmanageable and run away. The 12th of May last was a delightful day on the Plains.