William Overton (Portland founder)
Encyclopedia
William Overton was a pioneer
of the Oregon Country
in the Pacific Northwest
region of North America
. In the mid-1840s he purchased the land claim, along with Asa Lovejoy
, for the site which would become Portland, Oregon
. Overton sold his share shortly thereafter to Francis Pettygrove
.
According to historian Harvey W. Scott
, who published a comprehensive history of Portland in 1890, little was known about Overton. It was generally agreed that he originated from Tennessee
and settled in Oregon City
, possibly arriving with Joseph Gale
by way of California
. He was described by James W. Nesmith
as a "desperate, rollicking fellow." He and Lovejoy visited a site along the Willamette River
between present-day Jefferson and Washington streets while traveling from Fort Vancouver
to Oregon City by canoe in 1843 or 1844. The site had been previously cleared of trees, perhaps by natives
, and had become a popular stopping point for those traveling the Willamette. It was generally agreed that a large city would be established somewhere in the vicinity of the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia
rivers. Overton wanted to make a claim on the land, but prevailed upon Lovejoy to record the claim of 640 acres (259 ha), and the two men set about clearing more trees and building habitable dwellings. Overton's cabin was open in the front—effectively a shed. The original Portland plat was 16 blocks, laid out in 1845.
Overton "drove staves and shingles" on the site, and sold them at Oregon City. He offered to sell his share to Jimmie Stephens
, a cooper
, for 300 barrels, but Stephens declined. Lovejoy and Pettygrove were considering plat
ting a city on the site. Overton sold his share of the land claim to Pettygrove within a year or so, and departed for Texas
, upon hearing that his mother was ill and living there. It was rumored that he was hanged in Texas.
Overton Street in Northwest Portland
is named after him.
American pioneer
American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the...
of the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
region of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. In the mid-1840s he purchased the land claim, along with Asa Lovejoy
Asa Lovejoy
Asa Lawrence Lovejoy was an American pioneer and politician in the region that would become the U.S. state of Oregon. He is best remembered as a founder of the city of Portland, Oregon...
, for the site which would become Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. Overton sold his share shortly thereafter to Francis Pettygrove
Francis Pettygrove
Francis William Pettygrove , commonly known as William Pettygrove, was a pioneer and one of the founders of the cities of Portland, Oregon, and Port Townsend, Washington. Born in Maine, he re-located to the Oregon Country in 1843 to establish a store in Oregon City...
.
According to historian Harvey W. Scott
Harvey W. Scott
Harvey Whitefield Scott was an American pioneer, newspaper editor, and historian.Scott was born in on a farm in Illinois and migrated to Oregon with his family in 1852, settling in Yamhill County. He and his family moved near Olympia, Washington in 1853. At age 18, he fought in the American Indian...
, who published a comprehensive history of Portland in 1890, little was known about Overton. It was generally agreed that he originated from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and settled in Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
, possibly arriving with Joseph Gale
Joseph Gale
Joseph Goff Gale was an American pioneer, trapper, entrepreneur, and politician who contributed to the early settlement of the Oregon Country...
by way of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was described by James W. Nesmith
James W. Nesmith
James Willis Nesmith was an American politician and lawyer from Oregon. Born in Canada to American parents, he grew up in New Hampshire and Maine...
as a "desperate, rollicking fellow." He and Lovejoy visited a site along the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
between present-day Jefferson and Washington streets while traveling from Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in the company's Columbia District...
to Oregon City by canoe in 1843 or 1844. The site had been previously cleared of trees, perhaps by natives
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, and had become a popular stopping point for those traveling the Willamette. It was generally agreed that a large city would be established somewhere in the vicinity of the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
rivers. Overton wanted to make a claim on the land, but prevailed upon Lovejoy to record the claim of 640 acres (259 ha), and the two men set about clearing more trees and building habitable dwellings. Overton's cabin was open in the front—effectively a shed. The original Portland plat was 16 blocks, laid out in 1845.
Overton "drove staves and shingles" on the site, and sold them at Oregon City. He offered to sell his share to Jimmie Stephens
James B. Stephens
James B. Stephens was a pioneer of the U.S. state of Oregon. A cooper by trade, he operated one of the first ferries across the Willamette River at what was East Portland, Oregon. His father was the first burial at Portland's Lone Fir Cemetery...
, a cooper
Cooper (profession)
Traditionally, a cooper is someone who makes wooden staved vessels of a conical form, of greater length than breadth, bound together with hoops and possessing flat ends or heads...
, for 300 barrels, but Stephens declined. Lovejoy and Pettygrove were considering plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ting a city on the site. Overton sold his share of the land claim to Pettygrove within a year or so, and departed for Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, upon hearing that his mother was ill and living there. It was rumored that he was hanged in Texas.
Overton Street in Northwest Portland
Northwest District, Portland, Oregon
The Northwest District is a densely populated retail and residential neighborhood in the Northwest section of Portland, Oregon. Craftsman- and Old Portland-style houses are packed tightly together with grand old apartment buildings and sleek new condominiums, within walking distance of...
is named after him.