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Seven Months to Oregon: 1853
Diaries, Letters and
Reminiscent Accounts
Harold J. Peters, Editor
Foreword by Senator Mark O. Hatfield

This book arose from my Hines family genealogy research over a nearly ten-year period, from late 1998 through the summer of 2007. As the subtitle implies, it consists mainly of material written by members of the Hines family during their 1853 trip from their native New York State to the Oregon Territory. It was the second trip for Gustavus Hines, who had voyaged by sea with Jason Lee as part of the “Great Reinforcement” for the Oregon Methodist Mission before returning to New York in 1846. But in 1853, he and two brothers and their families, along with the Holden Judson Family and Charles Bryant family, set out for Oregon again, this time overland. A fourth Hines brother left later, taking the Panama route. The travelers settled first in northern Oregon and southern Washington, but eventually spread out north and south to reach nearly from the Canadian border to that of Mexico.

Thus the book is primarily a story of one small train of emigrants making their way west in the midst of thousands of others during the peak of the overland migration. As such, it will be mainly of interest to those who follow and enjoy Trail history. But it will have interest to two other broad audiences as well. Methodists will find that the story touches often on the history of their religion in the Pacific Northwest, and offers numerous incidents illustrating the special challenges facing devout believers away from the comforts and customs of home.

Not surprisingly, a second audience will be genealogists tracing their own emigrant roots. Several hundred persons are named during the course of the narrative, although most only in brief anecdotal accounts. However, most of the genealogical interest will, of course, be tied to the traveling families: the Hines, Judsons and Bryants, along with allied surnames: Goodell, Graves, Grubbs, Lee, Long, Martin, Meredith, Miner, Nelson, Round(s) and Shipley.

Finally, the book will be of interest to readers in Clark County and other parts of Washington because two of the Hines brothers, Gustavus and Harvey, served a number of Methodist-Episcopal churches in the region. Harvey also was editor for a time of the Vancouver Register, and served in the Territorial Legislature. Holden and Phoebe Judson and their extended family settled in Washington, and are credited with the founding of Lynden, Wash. near the Canadian border.
The publisher’s summary of the book follows, along with ordering and contact information. This is adapted from the description at their website:

Publisher's Summary (PDF file)
 

Link to Patrice Press

Last modified on Sunday, February 24, 2008