James John, Founder of St. Johns - c. 1875
James John arrived in Oregon in 1842, moving north from California. After starting two farms in the Tualatin Valley, he moved to Linnton, where he helped Morton McCarver and Peter Burnett build a warehouse. He moved across the river in 1846, and on Oct. 7, 1852, platted "St. Johns on the Willamette", which became the site of present-day St. Johns.
This photo was taken in about 1875 by Joseph Buchtel, when Johns was about 65. Suffering from dementia in his last decade, Johns became known as a hermit, and was said to be more comfortable with children than with adults. When he died in 1886, he left his entire estate for the benefit of school children. - Summarized from www.positivespin.us
-- This photo is restored and printed by Old Oregon.
Photographer | Joseph Buchtel |
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Location | Portland, Multnomah County |
Subject | Portraits |
Decade | 1870s |
Print Maker | Old Oregon |
Original Type | CDV |
Size of Original | 2.0 x 2.7 inches |