Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 24.djvu/384

 356 Stella M. Drumm question beyond a doubt. A copy of the will was pub- lished in volume 17 of the Oregon Historical Quarterly, whereby he bequeathed to Donald MacKenzie land which he received from the Spanish Government in 1798, all his right and pretensions to the saltpeter lands about the Boone's Lick at the river Missouri, and all the profits arising therefrom after the commencement of his partner- ship with Cooper and Farrel. To Miss Rachel MacKenzie, daughter of Donald MacKenzie, he bequeathed all his ready cash and lawful interest arising therefrom and lying in the hand of his former master, Mr. John Jacob Astor. Donald MacKenzie, in proving the will, stated that John Day died February 16, 1820, "on the south side of the river Columbia in the Territory of Oregon." In the manuscript collection of the Missouri Historical Society I have found some correspondence from Alex- ander MacKenzie, a grandnephew of Donald MacKenzie, in which he stated that he had before him the original will of John Day and gives a copy of the text thereof. There are some minor differences between the will as published in your Quarterly and the copy made by Mr. MacKenzie. For instance, he gives one witness's name as William Kiteson, instead of William Rettson. But the most interesting part of our copy, lacking in your publication, is the note attached to the will, as follows: "On the 16th February about 2 P. M. he 'Departed this Life viewing Mr. MacKenzie as the Man at whose hands he had ever experienced the most kindness/ he therefore said he bequeathed to him all he possessed: Deeming it too inconsiderate to divide among his rela- tions, but requested Mr. MacKenzie to inform his brothers Lewis and Willis. He appeared to die the death of a good man. Signed February 17, 1820. William Kiteson James Birnie." 28 28 With the permission of Miss Drumm the following is added to her interesting sketch of John Day: In the Henry-Thompson Journals, edited by Dr. Elliott Coues and published in N. Y., 1897, vol. 2, p. 861, under date March 29, 1814, it is stated that "arrangements were made with J. Day, Carson and other