1. James Terwilliger was an Oregon pioneer and one of the first English-speaking settlers of Portland, Oregon.
12 Facts About James Terwilliger
1. 2.
James Terwilliger is the namesake of Portland's Terwilliger Boulevard and Terwilliger School.
3.
James Terwilliger was raised in Ulster County, New York, and became a blacksmith, opening a shop in 1832 at Towanda, Pennsylvania.
4.
James Terwilliger continued his trade in Ithaca, New York, and married Sophronia Ann Hurd.
5.
James Terwilliger returned to Illinois and sold his property in preparation for an overland journey to the Oregon Country in 1844.
6.
James Terwilliger joined a 100-wagon train under the leadership of Sam Parker, John Stewart, and Abner Hackleman.
7.
James Terwilliger's property included five yoke of oxen, two wagons, and thirteen cows.
8.
Soon thereafter, James Terwilliger purchased a Donation Land Claim in southwest Portland in the area of James Terwilliger Boulevard.
9.
James Terwilliger joined the California Gold Rush in 1848, returning in 1849 with a small amount of gold dust.
10.
Three of the James Terwilliger children attended classes taught by Ralph Wilcox at Portland's first school in 1847.
11.
James Terwilliger joined others in calling for a school closer to his property near the Macadamized Road, and the Stephens School was erected in 1868.
12.
In 1909 the heirs of James Terwilliger deeded property to the City of Portland for construction of a parkway through what was left of Terwilliger's Donation Land Claim.