Francis Pettygrove

Francis William Pettygrove (1812–1887), commonly known as William Pettygrove, was a pioneer and one of the founders of the cities of Portland, Oregon and Port Townsend, Washington.

Early life

After a career as a shopkeeper in Portland, Maine, Pettygrove migrated west to the Oregon Country, and purchased a share of a claim on a 640 acre (2.6 km²) tract of land from William Overton, becoming partners with Asa Lovejoy.

Oregon Country

In 1845, Lovejoy and Pettygrove held a coin toss to determine the name of the city which was being platted on the claim; each wanted to name the city after his hometown. Pettygrove won the toss, and thus Portland, Oregon was born; had Lovejoy won, the city would have been named after Boston, Massachusetts. During his time in Oregon, Pettygrove was a member of the Oregon Lyceum in Oregon City.

Pettygrove sold his share in 1857 to Daniel H. Lownsdale and moved to present-day Washington state, where he would (with others) found the city Port Townsend. He died there in 1887 and is buried in Laurel Grove Cemetery.

N.W. Pettygrove Street in Portland is named after him, and his former home at 2287 Northwest Pettygrove Street is known as Pettygrove House.

ee also

* History of Portland, Oregon

References

* [http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/OHP-Glossary-Francis-Pettygrove.cfm Oregon History Project: Francis]
* [http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/road2oregon/sa33pdx.html From Robin's Nest to Stumptown]
* [http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5290 Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History: Essay 5290]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6032683 Find-a-grave: Francis Pettygrove]

External links

* [http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?action=ViewPark&PropertyID=511 Pettygrove Park]