Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 9.djvu/143

 "Doctor Robert Newell: Pioneer. 125 It was during these years when engaged at Lapwai, but returning every now and then to Champoeg, that he read in the Marine Gazette of Astoria the series of articles written by W. H. Gray and afterward compiled into what is erroneously entitled a History of Oregon, in which Mr. Gray gave his account of the formation of the Provisional Government and of the political events of those years. In reply to those letter.^ Dr. Newell Avrote several communications that were printed in the Democratic Herald of Portland in 1866 and afterward compiled by Elwood Evans under the title NeweU's Stric- tures on Gray." These letters of Dr. Newell contain very interesting data as to the time of which he wrote and are con- sidered a valuable source of early Oregon history. It is need - less to say that he returned to Mr. Gray good measure for all personal allusions. Dr. Newell died possessed of only a limited amount of property; his large family had kept him ''rustling." The farm at Champoeg had been sold in 1866 and just before death he had bargained with William Rexford for another farm in what was then Walla Walla County, on the old Walla Walla-Lewiston stage road at the first crossing of the Patit, two or three miles above Dayton, Washington (afterward known as the Graham farm.) This land and the five acres in Lewiston (title not then confirmed) comprised practically tli*^ whole of his estate. Death came upon him suddenly, of heart disease. Dr. New ell's politics and friendships are reflected in the names of his sons; one was named Thomas Jefferson, another Stephen Douglass, another Francis Ermatinger, and another Marcus Whitman. The remainder of his children bore family names; five of them are still living. He had a sister named Martha who crossed the plains as the wife of William ("Billy") Moore, who settled on the Tum-a-lum near Walla Walla and whose farm was one of the early land-marks of the Walla Walla Valley. Dr. Robert Newell was only one of the virile pioneers of Oregon entitled to recognition; not a great man above aU his