Family Chart No:  0250-0050

Husband:  James R. Daniel
Born:  1826 Place: 
Died:  Burial: 
Father: 
Mother: 

Married:  December 30, 1962 Place:

Wife:  Catherine Elizabeth Messinger
Born: September 10, 1849 Place: Delaware Co., Indiana
Died: June 3, 1878 Burial:
Father: Jacob Messinger
Mother: Anna Brown

Children:

Child 1:  Cornealius Vanderbuilt Danie Sex:  M Born: 
Child 2:  William Preston Daniel Sex:  M Born: 
Child 3:  Josaphine Clarissa Daniel (m.Lane) Sex:  F Born: 
Child 4:  Matilda Daniel "Telly" Sex:  F Born: 
Child 5:  Charles Frances Daniel Sex:  M Born: 
Child 6:  Rose Agnes Daniel (m.Ornduff ) Sex:  F Born: 
Child 7:  Sex:  Born: 
Child 8:  Sex:  Born: 

Biography: James R. Daniel


Note: The following information is from a book published in 1889 called History of Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington. It was copied by Ruth Stoller of the Yamhill County Historical Society in 1993 for Helen L. Thompson (Masters).

James R. Daniel: The sublect of this sketch was born in 1826, and has lived a life that might well be described in poety as succinct as that in which Onthello related his own. The son of a machinist and shipbuilder of Philadelphia, Mr. Daniel early learned naval craft on the schoolship North Carolina in New York harbor, and on the brig Washington of the Coast Survey, and was then transferred to the Independence and Potomac. After his honorable discharge from the United States navy, he made voyages as able seaman to Havre and Liverpool, and to the West Indies. In 1846 he joined the United States army to subdue Mexico, and was in the exciting scenes of that war until its close, being one of the number to witness the planting of the American colors on the old Aztec Capitol. He was in the quartermaster's department, and at one time had charge of a mule train, loaded with silver dollard, from Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico. He was engaged for a time after the war in business at that old city, and in 1850 came to the mines of California. With almost every passing year he encountered new romances and adventures. He was with the banished Mobile Guard of France, and served as scout to quell the Indians of the Stanislaus in California. In the month of July, 1852, he sailed for Australia, and on the way prospected the Samoan Islands of Tutila. After mining in Australia, he came to Oregon, and on Althouse and Klamath rivers mined with success. On Sucker creek he lost his partner by the bullets of the indians. In 1858 he went with a campanion to Frazer River, British AColumbia, and was one of the fortunates who discovered Hill's bar, from which himself and partner took ten thousand dollars each within six months. Going now with his money to San Francisco, he fell in the way of an appointment as interpreter for the secretary of the legation to Chile. But soon after reaching this South American country the revolution broke out, compelling his return by smuggling himself off on a Danish ship. Coming to Portland in 1859, he took a band of cattle to the Umatilla, and changed the epithet, "Hamstring," applied to the country, to "Tu tu willow," after the Samoan Tutuila. Here he has made his home ever since, although he has made many mining expeditions to British Columbia, and did not neglect to celebrate our glorious Fourth by raising our colors and singing patriotic hymns even across the line. In the spring of 1861, he took out six thousand, five hundred dollars at Oro Fino, Pierce City and Rhodes Creek, but lost his cattle by the severity of the season. In 1862, with his old partner Hill, he procured a train of goods at The Dalles and opened a hotel at Lee's Encampment, which he afterwards sold to A. B. Mecham. In the same year he was married. In 1878 his loved companion departed this life, leaving six children. Mr. Daniel's eight hundred acres of land thoroughly engage his attention; and he did not leave his home even during the time of the Indian scares in 1878.

Credits & Sources:

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