Dr Elijah White was a missionary and agent for the United States government in Oregon Country during the mid-19th century.
15 Facts About Elijah White
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Elijah White returned to the region after a falling-out with mission leader Jason Lee as the leader of one of the first large wagon trains across the Oregon Trail and as a sub-Indian agent of the federal government.
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In 1836, Elijah White accepted an appointment to join Jason Lee in Oregon Country at the Methodist Church's mission.
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In 1842, Elijah White led the first wagon train over the Oregon Trail that had more than 100 people.
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Elijah White arrived at Fort Vancouver ahead of the main party, arriving on September 20,1842.
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Elijah White returned as an official agent of the United States Government, after appointment as sub-Indian agent.
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On September 22,1842, Elijah White organized a meeting at Champoeg where he informed the settlers that he had been commissioned by the United States War Department as a sub-Indian Agent and implied that the pioneers could select him as their leader.
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Elijah White appointed judges to deal with disputes between Native Americans and United States citizens, and even between citizens.
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In 1843, Elijah White was selected as one of twelve members of the second Wolf Meeting to determine if the settlers wanted to form a government while waiting for the Oregon Question to be resolved.
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Elijah White was not involved in the final meetings, but in May 1843 the settlers voted 52 to 50 in favor of creating the Provisional Government of Oregon.
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Elijah White had tried to capture Cockstock prior to the bloodshed, and then worked to resolve tensions between the settlers and Native Americans after Cockstock and two settlers were killed.
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Elijah White then discovered a pass through the Oregon Coast Range to what is Newport, Oregon in 1845 before leaving the region with a petition from the Provisional Government to the United States Congress that same year.
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Elijah White returned to what had become the Oregon Territory in 1850 to promote the community of Pacific City, Washington along the Columbia River.
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Elijah White received a second commission as an Indian agent in 1861 for the region west of the Rocky Mountains and moved to California.
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Doctor Elijah White died on April 3,1879, at the age of 73.