Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/137

 Doctor Robert Newell: Pioneer. 119 in the rush to the California gold fields, drawn particularly by his personal acquaintance with James W. Marshall, the first discoverer of gold there. But we do not read of his making any large stake and in the fall of 1850, he seems to have been back again at his home, for he was a candidate for the legislature at a special election in December of that year, and was defeated. The Democrats were in control in Marion County and although Dr. Newell affiliated with that party, it was ten years later, in 1860, before he was again chosen to the legislature and took part in the strenuous contest result- ing in the compromise by which Col. E. D. Baker and J. W. Nesmith were chosen to the United States Senate. During the intervening years he was by no means out of politics, but held a place in the third house. After returning from California he engaged in warehousing and did a commission business in wheat; and in partnership with J. D. Crawford owned a store at Champoeg which dealt in flour, feed, ham, "pickled pork" (bacon) and such staples. He had caused the town of Champoeg to be platted. In 1854 he was one of the charter members of a railroad company that proposed to build a road from Eugene to the Columbia River ; but nothing came of it. In the Indian war of 1855-6, called the Yakima War, he organized a select company of thirty-five men, calling themselves The Scouts, and served as their cap- tain; and did valuable service under Major Rains in the Klickitat and Yakima country. But seemingly he did not permit himself to go into the Walla Walla region where he might meet some of his personal friends, the Nez Perces. In the year 1859 his name appears in the statute as one of the lessees of the State Penitentiary of Oregon. When serving as Speaker of the Assembly, on December 11, 1845, the record shows this written request to have been made : ' ' To Honorable House of Representatives : Gentlemen -.—Having received information of my wife being very ill, I am compelled to request of your honorable body im- mediate leave of absence; and by granting this you will con- fer a favor upon, Your very humble and obedient servant, ' ' Robert Newell. ' '