Tabitha Moffatt Brown | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1780-05-01)May 1, 1780 Brimfield,Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | May 4, 1858(1858-05-04) (aged 78) |
| Occupation | educator |
| Spouse | Reverend Clark Brown |
Tabitha Moffatt Brown (May 1, 1780 – May 4, 1858) was an American pioneer colonist who traveled theOregon Trail to theOregon Country. There she assisted in the founding ofTualatin Academy, which would grow to becomePacific University inForest Grove, Oregon.[1] Brown was honored in 1987 by theOregon Legislature as the "Mother of Oregon."[2]
Born on May 1, 1780, inBrimfield, Massachusetts, Brown was the daughter of Lois Haynes Moffatt and Dr. Joseph Moffatt.[3] She married the ReverendClark Brown (1771–1817) on December 1, 1799. The pair raised three boys and one girl together until the reverend died in 1817. He was a Congregational minister, and later became an Episcopalian minister. The oldest son was Orus, followed by Manthano, John Mattacks, and finally a daughter, Pherne. John died at age six. Prior to John and Clark's deaths, the family lived in various locales, includingCharles County, Maryland, where Clark is buried. Later the family moved toMissouri to follow Brown's brother-in-law Captain John Brown, a sea captain. She supported the family by teaching.[3]
Orus Brown went to theOregon Country in 1843 and returned two years later to retrieve his family, his sister's family, and his now elderly mother and uncle.[1] Manthano remained behind inKansas.[3] The trip began in April 1846 and the families remained united until they reachedFort Hall in what is nowIdaho. While there they decided to use theApplegate Trail as they were informed it was a shortcut. Orus continued alone on the traditional route of theOregon Trail.[3] A winter storm flooded parts of new path with rain, which delayed their arrival at theWillamette Valley. As winter set in, the family had still not reached the valley and they sent Pherne's husband Virgil Pringle to seek help from the settlers of the valley. On his way toOregon City, Pringle ran into Orus, who was on his way to help with supplies. The two then returned and brought the rest of the family to the settlements on December 25, 1846.[3]
Once in the Oregon Country, Tabitha Brown traveled between Oregon City and her daughter's home inSalem, and eventually settled inForest Grove.[1] She arrived fairly poor in the Willamette Valley, having only a singlepicayune, which she used to purchase sewing supplies.[4] Some of her spare clothing was bartered with severalKalapuya to acquirebuckskin. Brown began manufacturing gloves, which were purchased by fellow settlers and loggers,[3] and soon she had earned $30.[4] Later she helped found anorphanage withHarvey L. Clark. During the first year Brown had 30wards to watch over, several being as old as 21, while their parents went south during theCalifornia Gold Rush.[4] Then with Clark and the Rev.George H. Atkinson, they founded Tualatin Academy, which would grow to becomePacific University in Forest Grove.[1] Brown died in Salem while living with her daughter on May 4, 1858.[1] She is buried in Salem at thePioneer Cemetery.
There was a tree dedicated in her memory atChampoeg State Park,[1] although at some point it was cut down.[4] A World War IILiberty Ship built in 1942 was named in her honor. Brown's great-granddaughter,Mary Strong Kinney, was an Oregon State Senator.
Texts on Wikisource: