Smith, Alvin Thompson, 1802-1888

Alvin Thompson Smith, lay missionary and pioneer, was born November 17, 1802 in Brantford, Connecticut. He moved to Indiana in the 1830s and came overland to Oregon in 1840. He spent his first Oregon winter at Henry Spalding's mission, where he helped build grist and saw mills for the missionary. He settled on a land claim at present-day Forest Grove, where he donated money to the Congregational church and to the Tabitha Brown school. He was elected one of three magistrates at the Champoeg meeting, was a founder of Pacific University, and an early postmaster in Washington County.

From the description of Papers, 1820-1887. (Oregon Historical Society Research Library). WorldCat record id: 35797777

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