Lot Whitcomb

Lot Whitcomb

Lot Whitcomb
Born April 24, 1807
Vermont
Died March 31, 1857
Oregon
Resting place
 River View Cemetery
45°27′50.25″N 122°40′26.50″W / 45.4639583°N 122.6740278°W
Citizenship U.S.
Spouse(s) Irene Chamberlain
Children 4

Lot Whitcomb (April 24, 1807 – March 31, 1857)[1] was a mid-19th-century entrepreneur who built the first steamship on the Willamette River in the U.S. state of Oregon.[2] Born in Vermont, he moved to Michigan and then to Illinois, where he served in the Illinois House of Representatives.[1][3] Emigrating to Oregon in 1847, he settled on a donation land claim, built a sawmill and gristmill, and founded the town of Milwaukie in 1848.[1] The sawmill was located near the confluence of Johnson Creek with the Willamette.[4]

Whitcomb entered the freight-hauling business in 1849, building a schooner, Milwaukie, and buying a brig, Forest, to carry lumber and other goods to markets in California.[1] With profits from his freight business, in 1850 he started a newspaper, Western Star, based in Milwaukie.[5] It was the first Oregon newspaper founded after formation of the Oregon Territory.[5] In 1851, it was moved to Portland and its name changed to the Oregon Weekly Times.[5]

In the same year he started his newspaper, Whitcomb built his steamship, Lot Whitcomb.[2] John C. Ainsworth captained the vessel, which was 160 feet (49 m) long and had side wheels that were 18 feet (5.5 m) in diameter.[6] Jacob Kamm, who installed the steamship's machinery, was the engineer.[6] Whitcomb, in a Western Star editorial on November 21, 1850, promoted the steamboat, meant for "river navigation between Oregon City and Pacific City, touching at every point where there is business."[7] After the ship was launched, it made regular trips between Oregon City and Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia River.[7] However, river shoals between Milwaukie and Portland made the latter more accessible to large vessels, and Portland soon won the competition for sea-going commerce.[8] Whitcomb sold the ship to an Oregon City group, which in turn sold it to the California Steam Navigation Company in 1853 for use on the Sacramento River.[6]

Whitcomb's other activities included a term (1852–53) as Clackamas County representative to the House chamber of the Oregon Territorial Legislature.[9] He served as postmaster at Milwaukie from 1851 through 1857.[1]

Family life, death, and legacy

Whitcomb married Irene Chamberlain in 1828, and they had four children, all daughters.[1] After their deaths, Lot and Irene Whitcomb were buried in the private Whitcomb cemetery in Milwaukie but were later moved to River View Cemetery in Portland.[2]

Lot Whitcomb Elementary School in Milwaukie is named after Whitcomb.[10] In Oregon City, Lot Whitcomb Drive bears his name.[11] Liberty Ship 1594, SS Lot Whitcomb, was also named after him.[12]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Corning, Howard McKinley, ed. (1989) [1956]. Dictionary of Oregon History (2nd ed.). Portland, Oregon: Binford & Mort Publishing. p. 263. ISBN 0-8323-0449-2.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Friedman, Ralph (1990). In Search of Western Oregon. Caldwell, Idaho: The Caxton Printers, Ltd. pp. 433–34. ISBN 0-87004-332-3.
  3. ↑ 'Illinois Blue Book 2011-2012,' History of Illinois, Legislative Roster, pg. 409
  4. ↑ "Pioneer Days of Milwaukie". The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, Oregon). June 7, 1903. p. 15. Retrieved January 15, 2012. (subscription required (help)).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Carey, p. 486
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Carey, p. 741
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Carey, pp. 651–52
  8. ↑ Corning, Howard McKinley (2004) [1947]. Willamette Landings (3rd ed.). Portland, Oregon: Oregon Historical Society Press. p. 16. ISBN 0-87595-279-8.
  9. ↑ "Oregon State Archive: Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide". Oregon Secretary of State. 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Whitcomb Elementary". Schoolwires. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Meeting and Reception Facilities". Oregon City Chamber of Commerce. 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Liberty Ships built by the United States Maritime Commission in World War II". T. Horodysky. May 4, 2002. Retrieved January 15, 2012.

Works cited