Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/474



466 REVEREND EZRA FISHER

the absence of a common school system, and in view of the re- ligious and literary destitution of that country and the pros- pects of its rapid development both in population and re- sources and in view of the untiring efforts of other religious sects, upon consultation with our brethren here, we have thought it best for Br. Read to proceed immediately to the Umpqua and commence preaching to the destitute, and at the same time look after the interests of education and at- tempt, if practicable, to lay the foundation for a Baptist acad- emy in as favored a location as can be secured, as his labors have closed with the Oregon City College.

I did not visit Scottsburg, 277 the commercial point for the Umpqua, but learned that it consists of six dry goods stores, is near the head of tide water on the Umpqua, some four or five families residing in the vicinity, and that the entire com- munity consists of about 70 or 75 souls. Fifteen vessels have entered the mouth of the river within the last 15 months. Next month I expect to visit Rogue River. On my return I visited the church just constituted in the forks of the Wil- lamette 278 and spent the Sabbath. At present I shall defer giving you a description of this church, except to mention that our itinerant, Rev. Mr. Sperry, preaches to them month- ly and they are sustaining a Sunday school. Circumstances over which I have no control prevented my proceeding to Rogue River as I intended when I left home, but, by Divine permission, I shall visit that part of the country next month Indications seem very favorable that an immediate and ur- gent demand will be made for the appointment of an effi- cient, enterprising, devoted missionary to labor at the Indian Agency, where we have two valuable Baptist families, and

277 Scottsburg was at the head of tidewater on the Umpqua and was named after Levi Scott. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore., II: 178.

The first newspaper in Oregon, south of Salem, the Umpqua Gazette, was pub- lished at this place April, 1854. George H. Himes.

It was the point from which settlers in Southern Oregon got many of their supplies. There had been a Htidson's Bay Company's post there, and mule trails to the interior of Oregon. Mrs. Sallie Applegate Long, Mrs. Jesse Applegate, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar., VIII .-182.

278 This church was organized May i, 1852, by Revs. Vincent Snelling and William Sperry. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore., l:ig.