George Washington of Centralia

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George Washington of Centralia was born in 1817, in Virginia.He was rasied by a white couple named:Mr. and Mrs. James C. Chochran. When George was young the Chochrans moved west, first to Ohio,then to Missouri. George became a great rifleman. He taught himself how to read. George was given full rights as a citizen, after Mr. and Mrs. James C. Chochran requested so by a special Missouri right. (Not any other black had these rights.) George Washington and Mr. and Mrs. James C.Chochran moved to Oregon hoping to find a place that made him feel free and really equal. But he could not claim the land himself, because he was black. The Chochrans claimed the land for him. George later paid them forthe land. George took care of them. George started the city of Centerville(called Centralia, now),on this land. He got married to Mary Jane Cooness(she was a widow). It grew and grew. A church was built. They had a park made with some land they dedicated. They helped find food and work for the people of the town, who might have starved to death. He died at the age of 88,when Centralia had grow to a huge town.The people in Centralia had a funeral in honnor of him.