Eugene, Oregon History: Eugene Skinner Boyhood

Eugene Franklin Skinner founded Eugene, Oregon. This means he was the first Euro-American to live in the area. He gave part of his land up to have a city built on it. Not much is known about Eugene Skinner’s childhood. He was the second child born to John “Joseph” Skinner and his second wife Amelia Richardson Skinner. Eugene was born in Essex, New York. He had older siblings, a half-sister named Sally Paine Skinner and a half-brother named St. John Lawrence Bull Skinner. He had an older sister named Phoebe Bull Skinner and a brother that was born 1-2 years before he was. But his brother, also named Eugene Franklin Skinner, died at 8 months of age.

Battleofpburg

Battle of Plattsburg, NY

It is thought that Eugene Skinner often stayed with family members because his mother died when he was just 3 months old. His father, Major Joseph Skinner, was a businessman and during the War of 1812 was part of a militia battling the British in Plattsburg, New York. Eugene’s brother, St. John, was scouting the woods with other young volunteers to report the whereabouts of British troops. Eugene Franklin Skinner was about 4 years old at this time. We don’t know where he was living.

It is said Eugene’s father adored him, so he probably spent some of his early years with his dad while at times staying with other family members. When he was 14 years old, Eugene moved to Albany, Wisconsin to live with relatives who were “all interested in his welfare.” Eugene may also have lived with St. John and his wife Amelia, or with his sister, Mary.

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