Cornelius Gilliam
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Cornelius Gilliam (1798 - 1848) was a pioneer of the U.S. state of Oregon who was best known as the commander of the volunteer forces against the Cayuse in the Cayuse War.
Gilliam was from North Carolina, and was sheriff of Clay County, Missouri before leading a wagon train to Oregon in 1844.[1] After the Whitman massacre in 1847, the Provisional Government of Oregon organized a force of about 600 and made Gilliam colonel.[1] He had previous military experience battling Native Americans from fighting in 1832 during the Black Hawk War in the Midwest and in 1835 in the Seminole Wars in Florida.[2]
Gilliam County, Oregon is named for him.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Cogswell, Philip Jr. (1977). Capitol Names: Individuals Woven Into Oregon's History. Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society, 103-104.
- ^ Rogue River War. GlobalSecurity.org, accessed September 25, 2007.
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