South by Northwest: Blacks in the Pacific Northwest; 102; The Homesteaders

In the early 1840 letters diaries and records of the early chapters in the Oregon country began to do about attracting the attention of the American people. The Civic north west of the United States became more interested in the role of the journey of approximately to the westward movement was prompted by several factors. Appending a bill by the legislators which proposed to give each immigrant six hundred forty acres of land with an additional one hundred sixty acres for each child in the family was an important factor. American patriotism also served as a lure to the feeling of winning Oregon for the United States was expressed by many of the early immigrants and often worded in strong biting terms. Hold there. By the late 87 the reconstruction had ended and the rights of

free blacks were handed over to the former slave masters. During this decade blacks from Virginia to the wheezy Texas met to discuss where they should go and what they must do. The solution was slow in the developing. Passing through several preliminary stages a committee of five hundred black was born between 87 the total black population more than double. But in the Pacific states Washington Oregon California it increased in years that many were driven by a restless spirit and a sense that they were taking part in the great historical migration but for blacks like George Bush and his family there was also the hope that in that remote corner of the west they might become true citizens of America.

His stubborn hope for greater freedom for himself his wife and his five sons made them the first known black family to settle in the Pacific Northwest according to history. Bush brought six Conestoga wagon equipped with enough provisions and assisted several other families in making a trip to Oregon. Bush reportedly built a false bottom in his way. He had over 100 pounds of silver is worth about $2000. In the interest of safety a huge wagon train was broken up into smaller groups. It's traveled close enough to one another to get aid in times of trouble in 1844 the Bush party traveled to the Oregon territory consisted of the land which later became the states of Washington Oregon and Idaho. In 1945 the first party to move north of the Columbia River into the area that is now the state of Washington and founded the first American settlement there

New York. Yes you do Bill. First Good morning George you think you're going to need any help to get that right. No I think we can manage to get into Soda Springs tonight. The blacks who came to homestead in the northwest territories did not find the food. Some Western Tories refused to let the neuter and pass laws to exclude that which were known as the black law. It is true that the Western news took a firm stand against the arrival of slavery in the States but they also took a firm stand against the arrival of black and all the Danbury

and learned of the news. Thank you George and whatever. The road to nowhere George Washington and receive the Shining Force was a negro and also a white woman and a family of five children. Many many states are well-to-do and so generally it was not in the nature of things that he should be permitted to forget. As we went along together he rather

led the conversation to the subject. He told me he should watch. And when we got to Oregon it was awarded to people of color. And if you cannot have a free man's rights he would seek the protection of the Mexican government in order. He said there were few in that train he would say as much to me. I told him unable to understand the reason for him. So in 1862.

Why do men I mean we've been trying to dig into men who control you when you see if you want to see you when you're writing for us because. We cooperate. And.

This is Mary Field used to working with us at the mission which we are very fond of her. We are enjoying Mary's visit. I'm married. You know you. Expect me and you can ever expect to get it ladies in these countries. I carried a mail around or I get out of my own town about is mighty glad to see you forever that there are only one state. We don't know where to counsel you. You can be a man who didn't even know you. We have now in its wake you know that involve any other and need.

Lots of what you mean. You mean people giving away minimum he. Or you gotta do is use only Instead it. Is there to do that instead of me. Eight hundred fifty

two guys the opportunity to work in the industrial were busy manufacturing weapons for the war the reconstruction that youre going to see. And we can be very

busy. Anyone here. We don't do it. We're going to be free to make here and there is going to have a name anyway. Mr. Bachman noble working for nothing. It will be a

whole. Week. There was a lot.

Of blacks. We got to get

above ground to be yeah Lenon it out over there. My name is Joe will likely be my wife and I for sure. You know I'm here for you know I'm always out of your body a year ago but I ran into some bad luck and lost my way and I'm out of work. I got no trade but I do willing to do anything. Love to hear it but I did barely out of work room. The ability of morning you know you probably a lot like you to meet a friend of mine. I never thought you know what brings you into this big city this morning you want to return you thought you know all the blight alone.

You know he's the only man in the park who has what. Well I mean I had to go down the only white man in this play to heel area. I'm Oh we I don't know how I did that was. How he really obliged to you if you just give me a start. There or I can do all kinds of things around me and I can I could clean up the plane out of power running them yeah. Why and Why go in there in the morning to be mean you you can't get them out. It was working.

People who are keen to claim the land for America and for yourself

wanted a new life and New Labor to answer for. To seek even to the black was with me to which two blacks from me as opportunities to learn was large enough and new enough for him to try and escape the restrictive institution some homesteaders like Joe well who like George Washington. You soon sure you want to go with him. King was disunity Vince we owned an entire fourteen hundred acres for John and Matty Del Cassidy required to spread it to meet the prosperous like others like Millie when Hugo who was born a slave and later became a miner lived out their lives in which you do you know a frightening story. But all were part of one of mankind's greatest good things she said it was just like you know.