William Overton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | 1840s |
| Occupation | Pioneer |
William Overton was apioneer of theOregon Country in thePacific Northwest region ofNorth America. In the mid-1840s he purchased the land claim, along withAsa Lovejoy, for the site which would becomePortland, Oregon. Overton sold his share shortly thereafter toFrancis Pettygrove.
According to historianHarvey W. Scott, who published a comprehensive history of Portland in 1890,[1] little was known about Overton. It was generally agreed that he originated fromTennessee and settled inOregon City, possibly arriving withJoseph Gale by way ofCalifornia, though he spent his first months in Oregon, from November 1, 1841 to the early part of 1842, working at the Methodist mission atThe Dalles.[2]
Overton was described byJames W. Nesmith as a "desperate, rollicking fellow."[1] He and Lovejoy visited a site along theWillamette River between present-day Jefferson and Washington streets while traveling fromFort Vancouver to Oregon City by canoe in 1843 or 1844. The site had been previously cleared of trees, perhaps bynatives, and had become a popular stopping point for those traveling the Willamette. It was generally agreed that a large city would be established somewhere in the vicinity of the confluence of the Willamette andColumbia rivers.[1] Overton wanted to make a claim on the land, but prevailed upon Lovejoy to record the claim of 640 acres (260 ha),[3] and the two men set about clearing more trees and building habitable dwellings.[1] Overton's cabin was open in the front—effectively a shed. The original Portland plat was 16 blocks, laid out in 1845.[4]
Overton "drove staves and shingles" on the site, and sold them at Oregon City. He offered to sell his share toJimmie Stephens, acooper, for 300 barrels, but Stephens declined. Lovejoy and Pettygrove were consideringplatting a city on the site.[5][6] Overton sold his share of the land claim toPettygrove for $50, though he had to pay Lovejoy $60 for improvements the two made on Overton's land.[7] He then departed forTexas, upon hearing that his mother was ill and living there, and was never heard from again. It was rumored that he was hanged in Texas,[1] although records indicate he may have ended up inHawaii.[8]
Overton Street inNorthwest Portland is named after him.
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