EXPEDITION TO OREGON

New York: 1914., 1914. First edition. First Separate Printing. 8vo. Printed wrappers, 19 pp. Graff 3059 says, "The account appeared first in the Peoria Register and North-Western Gazetteer, December 14, 21, 28, 1839, and January 4, 1840. An interview with Oakly had appeared in the November 9, 1839 issue of the same. It was reprinted in the National Intelligencer, November 23, 1839, and in the Library of American History [Cincinnati, ca. 1840]." Wagner/Camp 77a says,"Obadiah Oakley joined the Peoria Party led by Thomas J. Farnham, who had resolved to travel to Oregon and settle there. The Peorians followed the Santa Fe Trail to Bent's Fort on the Arkansas River where they split into two groups. Oakley and three others stayed with Farnham and continued up the Arkansas and over the mountains to Brown's Hole on the Green River. Here they met a party returning to the East led by Paul Richardson, a former hunter for N.J. Wyeth who had spent two years in Oregon. Richardson's unfavorable description of the Oregon country so discouraged Oakley that he gave up the journey and returned to Illinois." A clean, near fine copy.