This site will be under Continual construction for several years. New information is found all the time. We will add what we know at this point and as new material is found we will add or change.
Check Back Often
1860s Sauvie Island
“A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by future descendants”
Lord Macaulay
(a British Historian and Politician 1800-1859)
Information found at the GFO can probably be found at the Vancouver Genealogical Society.
They will both answer queries as will the Oregon Historical Society. Always enclose a self addressed and stamped envelope with your query. You will find their addresses under "Libraries and Museums".
Sources
1. 1850 Washington County, Oregon census
2. 1860 Columia County, Oregon census
3. 1870 Columbia County, Oregon census
4. 1880 Columbia County, Oregon census
5. Probate of Mahala Bonser, Bk 2, No.529, pg 234, Mult. Co, Oregon, Intestate
6. Portland Oregon City Directories (found at OHS and GFO)
7. 1870 Multnomah County, Oregon census (GFO)
8. ClarK County Pioneers “A Centennial Salute” by Clark County Genealogical Society, Vancouver, WA
9. Clark County Pioneers,Vol. II.Clark Co. Gen. Soc. Vancouver, WA.
10. Probate of Hilton Bonser, Book 3, No 810, pg 177 (intestate) Multnomah County Court Records, Portland, Oregon (GFO)
11. Multnomah County Marriage Book 1873-1883 (GFO)
12. Multnomah County Marriages, Book 5, pg 252 (GFO)
13. Mrs Jack Copeland was a source of material on the Thomas, Bonser, Copeland and Knox families. She is a member of the GFO.
14. Columbia County, Oregon Marriage Records (GFO)
15. Washington County, Oregon Marriage Records, 1842-1896, Volumes 1 & II (GFO)
16. Washington County Cemetery Records, Volume III (GFO)
17. Clark County, Washington Cemetery Records, Volume 1 & II
18. Clark County, Washington Cemetery Records, Volume1 & II
19. Story in Tacoma News Tribune, Tacoma, Washington, August 1938. Available at Tacoma Public Library, Tacoma, Washington and Biographical files at OHS, Portland< Oregon
20. Annie Ray (local historian) of Sauvie Island
21. History of Portland, Oregon (1890) by Harvey Whitfield Scott (GFO, OHS)
22. Gaston, Joseph, Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1911. Volume III, Chicago, Ill, S> J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1912 (GFO, OHS)8
23. Lewis & Dryden, Marine History of the Pacific Northwest
24. Clark County, Washington Land Records
25. Bonser/Armstrong files at OHS
26. Letter in Oregonian written by Mrs. Rosa Scoggins, grand daughter of John Bonser re: the Bonser Train, May 12, 1947
27. Will of James Dart, Columbia County, Oregon, located at the Columbia County Court House in St. Helens, OR. (will of Ellen Dart in same book, next page)
28. Obit of James H. Bonser (Oregonian)
29. Obit of Clinton Bonser (Oregonian)
30. Obit of Mary Ann Bonser (Oregonian)
31. The Terrible Trail, The Meek Story
32. Cemetery Records, Columbia County, Oregon (these records were printed and published by the Genalogical Forum of Oregon, Portland, Oregon.
33. These individuals shared information of great value
34. Mrs. Barbara Thompson of Warren, Oregon
35. Mrs. Jan Reeder of Sauvie Island, Oregon
36. Mrs. Mabel Dudley of Scapoose, Oregon
37. Cindy Mumm of Lucasville, Ohio
38. Shirley Farnesi of Dinuba (?) CA
39. Larry Handley of Hillsboro, Oregon
40. Ralph Scott of Portsmouth, Ohio
41. Unless otherwise noted information on the Armstrong families came from Jean Erickson, a descendant through Abner Enyart Armstrong
42. Screenings a publication of the Oregon Archeological Society. Most of these are available at the Portland State library. Many stories and references to the Indian sites on Sauvie Island.
43.