Biography of Theodore J. & Elizabeth Eckerson, 1899, State of Oregon Surnames: Eckerson, McCabe ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives (http://files.usgwarchives.net) to store the file permanently for free access and not to be removed separately without written permission. ************************************************************************ Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: W. David Samuelsen - January 2002 ************************************************************************ Oregon Native Son, Vol.1, June 1899, page 112-113 MAJOR THEODORE J. ECKERSON. MRS. ELIZABETH ECKERSON. Major Eckerson joined the United State army more than 60 years ago, and, after service in Florida in the Seminole Indian war from 1840 to 1843 served in all the battles of the Mexican war except Buena Vista. For these services he afterward received his first appointment as a commissioned officer. His second commission was given him on the recommendation of General Ulysses S. Grant then commanding the United States armies from his headquarters at City Point, Va., under whose eye Major Eckerson’s Mexican war service had been performed, which reads a follows, the original now being in the major's possession, and highly treasured by him: "Headquarters, Armies of the United States City Point, Va., February 3, 1865. - To the President of the United States: I most heartily approve the application of Theodore J. Eckerson for the appointment of assistant quarter master in the regular army. He has served for more than 25 years in the army, and has maintained a high character. He is very efficient and well acquainted with the duties of almost every department of the service. I know him personally, and can vouch for what I say of him. He will make an excellent quartermaster to have on the Pacific coast, where he has been long and favorably known. "U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General." His third commission (that of major) came in due course of promotion. Major and Mrs. Eckerson arrived at the mouth of the Columbia river May 8. 1849, after a voyage of six months on board the United States steamship Massachusetts, and landed at Fort Vancouver on the 15th of that month. Here he established and taught the first American school north of the Columbia after the boundary treaty with Great Britain, a school for children of the various Indian tribes having previously been carried on in the Hudson's Bay Company's fort; and here, while in charge of the United States ordnance depot, he furnished, in 1855, upon his own authority, the arms, ammunition and accoutrements to the governor of Oregon (Curry) for the Oregon troops in the then Indian war. Strange to say, this action of his received no notice in the work recently printed under the authority of the legislature, nor is any reference whatever made to the source whence the troops procured their arms. This omission is to be corrected in a future edition, and, in the meantime, it is considered proper to subjoin here an extract from an article printed in the "Oregonian" on the subject in 1888. The "Oregonian" of June 16, 1888, thus refers to the invaluable service rendered by him to Oregon and Washington in the Indian wars of 1855: "Major Eckerson did excellent service for Oregon in her early days of trial and danger. He had charge of the ordnance depot at Vancouver during the period of the greatest Indian troubles, and took the responsibility, without orders from Washington, and aginst the remonstrances of General Wool, to supply arms and ammunition upon the requisition of the governors of Oregon and Washington territory, for the use of the people. In this he tendered an invaluable service that never will be forgotten. Without the arms and fixed ammunition, defense would have been extremely difficult, and aggressive war upon the Indians impossible. The temper of General Wool was such as to make the matter one of serious difficulty to Captain (now Major) Eckerson, but he took the high position that there was no need of a depot of arms here unless some use were to be made of it for the protection and defense of the country." The major holds medals and diplomas from the Grand Army of the Republic, the Mexican war, the Loyal Legion, U. S.; Sons of the American Revolution, Society of Foreign Wars, and Indian wars of the North Pacific In 1888 he was elected an honorary member of Multnomah camp, No. 2, Indian Veterans, and, at the meeting of said camp in 1898, was unanimously elected as first lieutenant. Himself and wife are also members the Oregon Historical Society. Major Eckerson was born January 22, 1820, and though now in his 80th year, retains his mental facilities to their full, and moves about like a man of 50. He was united in wedlock November 2, 1848, with Miss Elizabeth McCabe. She was born in Monaghan county, Ireland. The writer of this, who knows her well, has found a description suitable to her in an article contained in a prominent Eastern magazine, reading as follows: "The women of the Celtic race have no superiors in point of general comeliness, purity of life and healthy femininity. To integrity of conduct they add a cheerful and sympathetic temperament, which enables them to surmount all trials and to brighten the places wherein they find a home." It may readily be concluded from this that as a wife, a mother and a friend she has; in the 50 years just past, well filled her place as a true pioneer. Four sons and two daughters were born to. the major and wife. Of them, one died at Astoria, two received commissions from President Grant in the army, one is an employe in the postoffice department at Washington city, and both daughters became the wives of army officers.