Mbhs #: 0915

Year: 1847

Location: Oregon City

First Row: James Willis Nesmith, Jesse Quinn Thornton

Notes: Handbill posted in Oregon City, capital of the Territory, by James Willis Nesmith in 1847. Nesmith came to Oregon Country with the Applegate brothers in 1843; his diary of the trip survives. For his other exploits, including role in the Rogue Indian Wars, see https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/nesmith_james/ Nesmith aligned with the pro-South Democrats. Jesse Quinn Thornton was an abolitionist who came West in 1846 in the Russell wagon train, comprised of emigrants to both Oregon and California. Thornton got involved in a dispute about his wagon and team; he and the other Oregon-bound settlers were told to leave the train. Those who continued on to California are now known as the Donner Party. Thornton's party ran into the Applegate brothers and Levi Scott at Fort Hall and diverted onto the new Applegate Trail. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Quinn_Thornton