April 10, 1846, was an exciting day for Eugene and Mary Skinner. They were finally leaving Sutter’s Fort. But there was another reason to be excited. Mary was pregnant and due in December. Eugene and Mary Skinner would have a baby born in Oregon Territory!

Eugene Skinner sold their wagon and purchased horses and pack animals for their journey. Elijah Bristow, who had traveled in the same wagon train as the Skinners, also traded his wagon for horses and pack animals as did others who would head to Oregon with them. The group also brought cattle with them. source

About a month after leaving Sutter’s Fort they arrived at present-day Rickreall, near Salem, Oregon. Some pioneers stayed with families of their wagon train who took the Oregon Trail from Fort Hall. Others continued farther north. The Skinners stayed with the General Cornelius Gilliam family near Rickreall. After awhile, Eugene left Mary in search of the perfect 640 acres they would claim as their own.

Eugene Skinner headed south with three other men who were also looking for their perfect pieces of land. These men were called “The Four Horsemen of Lane County.” They were the first United States citizens to settle in the Eugene area. (Click on their pictures.)

Eugene Skinner

Elijah Bristow

William Dodson

Felix Scott (?)

Each man staked his claim, or defined the boundaries of his land. This was done by “walking off” the boundaries of their property, pounding wooden stakes at each corner, and blazing trees to mark the boundary lines. Walking off was a way to measure the acreage.

Eugene Skinner chose land beside the Willamette River and a small butte. Elijah Bristow staked his claim 15 miles upstream between the Coast Fork and Middle Fork of the Willamette River. William Dodson and Felix Scott with his son Felix Scott, Jr. staked their claims near Elijah Bristow’s claim. Felix Scott moved his land claim a year later to the opposite side of the river of Bristow’s claim where the  Mohawk River empties into the McKenzie River.