Page:Centennial History of Oregon 1811-1912, Volume 1.djvu/28

 1839—(Vicar General) Blanchet and (Bishop) Demers, the pioneer Catholic missionaries, arrived.

Rev. Demers rings the first church bell in the Pacific Northwest at the Cowlitz Mission, Washington, October 14th.

Rev. Blanchet blesses the first church bell blessed in the Willamette valley on French Prairie, December 23rd; also celebrates the first mass to be celebrated in the valley at the same place in January, 1840.

Pioneer printing press of the Pacific coast brought from the Sandwich Islands. Set up at Lapwai Mission. Booklets, etc., printed in the Spokane and Nez Perce languages. It was brought here by E. O. Hall. He was the first printer to work at his trade on the coast. This press and type is now in the custody of the Oregon Historical Society.

Rev. J. S. Griffin arrives. He published the first paper issued in the Pacific Northwest.

Peoria Party arrives. This was the first company of immigrants to come.

1840—Harvey Clarke independent missionary party arrives.

First American vessel, the Thomas H. Perkins, to enter the Columbia with cargo, arrives.

Salem, Oregon, founded. First called "The Mill," called "Chemekete" by the Indians. The latter name means "Here we rest" or "Place of Peace." "Salem" has also a similar meaning.

1841—Joseph Gale and others built the Star of Oregon, the first vessel built by Americans in the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Gale was one of the first executive committee of the provisional government. He died in Wallowa county, December 23, 1881, aged 92 years.