Page:The Souvenir of Western Women.djvu/133

Rh

WOMAN of rare charm and ability was Frances Fuller Victor, who died in Portland, Oregon, December 14, 1902.

Frances Fuller was born in the township of Rome, New York, May 23, 1826. Early in life she married Henry C. Victor, a naval engineer, who, in 1863, was ordered to California. At the close of the war husband and wife moved to Oregon, which state Mrs. Victor so loved that she devoted herself with enthusiasm to its fascinating history, and thus gained for herself the distinction of a most versatile figure in Pacific Coast literature. Faithful, precise, unprejudiced was Mrs. Victor, displaying in all her work historical genius, that genius which can "see the nobler meaning of events," even though the events be near at hand.

The first book written by Mrs. Victor on the history of Oregon was "The River of the West" (1870), a biography of the old trapper, Joseph L. Meek, This tale, full of merit, was introduced by a poem, entitled "Sunset at the Mouth of the Columbia."

"All Over Oregon and Washington" (1872) was the second work, touching on the Northwest. The preface to this closes with these words: "The beautiful and favored region of the Northwest Coast is about to assume a commercial importance which is sure to stimulate inquiry concerning the matters herein treated of. I trust enough is contained between