Historic Hood River
Pioneer Meeker, Who Reblazed the Oregon Trail
10-2-2018
Notes
Oregon schoolkids learn the story of Ezra Meeker, who “reblazed the Oregon Trail”. Meeker first traveled the Oregon Trail in 1852. Concerned it was being lost to history, he traveled it again in 1906-1908, promoting marking of the trail for posterity. I believe this Benjamin Gifford photogravure shows him at the end of that trip, in Oregon City. [Ed. note: This marker is actually in the Dalles.]
Charlott
Quite the little gathering there and naturally a dog. I initially thought that might be the McLaughlin house on top of the hill, but finally decided that the shape is not the same. My big question is: What happened to that rock???
Ezra Manning Meeker started out his life in Ohio. After his marriage to Eliza Jane Sumner, they set out the following year with their new baby for the west on the Oregon Trail.
They stop and reside for a short time in the Portland area, but continued on to settle as a hop farmer in the Puyallup, Washington area. He did exceedingly well in that venture, but a hop aphids would basically ruin him eventually. He was at one time both post master and mayor of Puyallup. I believe his big home still remains.
He tried various things after his farm failure, such as taking trips into the Klondike with groceries, but never was that successful.
He made various trips over the years on the Oregon Trail, but imagine what he saw from the air when he went up and along that famous trail in 1924 in an airplane.
Kenn
The curved sides on the wagon suggest a Conestoga, I assumed he used a converted farm wagon as most pioneers did.
Went up last Sat to the carriage and wagon museum at Raymond, a fantastic collection. I still hope to see a 1000 lb borax wagon wheel.
Gary Elkinton
The Dalles Discovery Center has the location of this photo in the Union Street Park in The Dalles in 1906.
Arthur
Thanks Gary, that marker is indeed in the Dalles at the "End of the Oregon Trail Park." I saw a picture of it from 2010. Unsurprisingly there are other claims to the "end of the Oregon Trail." One is Oregon City, another is Sylvester Park in Olympia Washington.
L.E.
I wonder if Sylvester Park is considered on end of the OT, because of George Washington Bush not being allowed to stay in Oregon, because he was black, so he and his friend Simmons continued across the Columbia to Fort Vancouver, up the Cowlitz River to the Olympia area.
Others soon followed.
http://www.historylink.org/File/5646
Arthur
What a great story, LE. I never would have guessed this image would take us to Olympia and George Washington Bush.
Longshot
The house to the right looks to have a picture window, pretty unusual for the times I would think.
L.E.
Washington State History has a story about Meeker’s trip which began January 29, 1906.
There is a bit of explanation on how the wagon was built.
https://www.historylink.org/File/7746