272 REVEREND EZRA FISHER
Salem. l6 9 Visited his family and in the afternoon visited the Oregon university or, in other words, the Methodist Insti- tute, now in operation under the superintendence of Rev. Mr. Wilbur. 1 ? His daughter performs the duty of teacher at present. I learn they are expecting a teacher from the States the coming year. The school at this time occupies the place of a common school, but meets the wants of the village and surrounding country. The buildings are of wood and have been erected at an expense vastly disproportionate to the present demands of the country. Yet, feeble as the school has been, doubtless it has proved a blessing to Ore- gon and will ultimately reward the denomination for all the needless expenditures. Its site is eligible, on the east bank of the Willamette about forty miles above Oregon City.
6th. Rode twenty miles up Mill Creek to the north fork of the Santi Am River, visited two families and attended the funeral of a young married lady with whom I traveled on our way from the States. Made a short address and of- fered up a prayer at the grave.
7th. Rode sixteen miles, after fording the river, to the middle fork and preached to an interesting collection of people, some of whom rode from three to twenty-five miles to hear preaching.
8th. Crossed the middle and south forks ; the latter stream is nearly as large as the Mohawk River. Rode 15 miles to the church on said stream and preached at 12 (noon) to the church. 1 ? 1 This church is situated in the midst of the richest
169 This was W. T. Matlock, who was a member of the state legislature in 1851. History of Pacific Northwest, compiled by North Pacific History Company, 1:326. He later lived near Clackamas Station in Clackamas County.
170 The Oregon Institute, the forerunner of the present Willamette University, intended at first as a school for the children of Methodist missionaries, was organ- ized early in 1842. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 1:201-203, 222 -
Rev. James H. Wilbur, (1811-1887) came to Oregon in 1847. His daughter was later the wife of the Rev. St. M. Fackler, an Episcopal clergyman. W. D. Fenton, Father Wilbur and His Work, in Ore. Hist. Soc. Quar. X, 2; p. 17.
171 This was probably the Santiam Baptist Church (at Sodaville, Linn Co.), which had been organized by Rev. H. Johnson that same summer. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:8.
