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EWING YOUNG AND His ESTATE 185

of early Oregon history. However, the administration of his estate brought about three other meetings which the records here produced for the first time bring into general notice. In course of the disposal of the property comprising the estate three auctions were held by the administrator. The "minutes of sales" are evidence of a full attendance of the settlers. Then there were repeated participations of a considerable pro- portion of the community in collecting the cattle and horses for the sale days. Their association on these auction days and their general co-operation in holding them was a schooling in facility for unanimity in achieving their later political organ- ization. 21 In a word, the public mind and spirit for the deliber- ation at the Champoeg meeting on May 2, 1843, had been prepared for through the meeting six years before at the same place for the organization of the California cattle expedi- tion, and more recently by the auctions participated in on the farm of Ewing Young across and up the river. Joseph L. Meek, who successfully evoked response and decision at the political meeting, had previously trained for this as auctioneer at Chehalem. And George Le Breton was naturally suggested as secretary, for he had served as clerk at the auctions.

Bancroft holds that "From the presence of Ewing Young in Oregon sprang two important events in the settlement of the country: the coming of an authorized agent of the United States, and the disinthralment of the settlers from what they felt to be the oppressive bondage of the fur company. By his death Ewing Young gave the colony a further and still more important impulse. . . ." 22 (The reference is to the move- ment for complete political organization.) Using as the basis of my claims data referring to the vital every day interests of the settlers I have tried to show how he had even a more direct and far-reaching part in early Oregon development. It is now in place to turn to the background of his earlier preparatory experiences and career, so far as records available suffice to

21 Documentary Record, appendix, VIII, IX, X,

22 Bancroft, History of Oregon, v. I, p. 152,