Visitors to Oregon and history enthusiasts often stumble upon the name “John Day” and ask, “Was there really a John Day?” The answer is yes, and his story, though shrouded in some mystery, is interwoven with the early exploration of the American West.
While details about John Day are scarce, historical accounts paint a picture of a remarkable frontiersman whose legacy lives on in the geography of Oregon and beyond. This article delves into the known facts and intriguing tales surrounding this figure, focusing on John Day Usa and the places that bear his name.
Who Was John Day? A Virginia Woodsman in the West
Born in the backwoods of Virginia, John Day was a seasoned hunter before his ventures into the Pacific Northwest. Around 40 years old when he arrived in Oregon, he had already spent years working for Ramsay Crooks, a testament to his skills and resilience. Descriptions of Day portray him as an imposing and capable man: “six feet two inches tall, a handsome man with a manly countenance, straight as an Indian with an elastic step ‘as if he trod on springs’.” He was known for his confidence and past physical prowess, though it was said he had “lived too fast,” hinting at a life of adventure and perhaps hardship that had taken a toll. Despite any wear, he remained “strong of hand, bold of heart, a prime woodsman, and an almost unerring shot” – qualities highly valued in the untamed wilderness of the early 19th century.
The Overland Expedition and the Naming of the John Day River
John Day’s journey to Oregon was as part of the Wilson Price Hunt expedition, also known as the ‘Overland Party’ of the Pacific Fur Company (Astorians), in the fall of 1810. Their mission was ambitious: to traverse the vast plains and rugged Rocky Mountains and reach Astoria, the fur trading post at the mouth of the Columbia River. The journey, commencing in 1811, was fraught with peril. By December 1811, the hardships took their toll on Day. He fell ill near Weiser, Idaho, and owed his survival to Ramsay Crooks, who stayed behind to care for him.
In the spring, Day and Crooks resumed their westward trek, crossing the Blue Mountains towards the Columbia River. Disaster struck near the mouth of the Mau Mau River. They were attacked by indigenous people, robbed, and left destitute. This river, previously known as the Mau Mau, became associated with this event. As the story goes, people began referring to it as ‘John Day River’ due to Day’s misfortune there. Over time, maps formalized this change, solidifying the name “John Day River.” This river’s name would then extend its reach to a valley, two towns – John Day and Dayville – the John Day Fossil Beds, and the John Day Dam, establishing the lasting connection between John Day USA and the explorer. Ironically, it’s quite possible John Day himself never actually set foot in the area now so prominently named after him.
The Murky Details of John Day’s Demise: Multiple Accounts
The narrative surrounding John Day takes a turn towards the tragic and uncertain when it comes to his death. In June 1812, he was tasked with accompanying Robert Stuart on a return journey across the plains to St. Louis, carrying dispatches for John Jacob Astor. However, near Wapato Island on the night of July 2, 1812, Day reportedly suffered a mental breakdown, described as becoming ‘deranged’ and attempting suicide. He then fled the party and disappeared into the wilderness, marking his first recorded (though perhaps not actual) death.
Washington Irving, in his book Astoria, offers a different account, stating that Day was sent back to Astoria after this incident, but his health was irrevocably damaged by the journey, and he died within a year – a second version of his death.
Adding to the confusion, a third, unsubstantiated account suggests Day retired from his expeditions and lived out his days in a hunter’s cabin near a creek flowing into the Columbia River, dying there.
However, historical records offer further clues. In 1814, a journal entry by Alex Henry mentions a ‘Passenger Joshua Day’ among a group traveling from Astoria. Given no other record of a Joshua Day, it’s speculated this was a misspelling and referred to John Day.
The most widely accepted account of John Day’s death comes from the journal of Alex Ross, written during a Hudson Bay Company expedition in the Snake River country in 1823-24. Ross notes, “Went up the Headwaters of the river. This is the defile where in 1819 died John Day.” This ‘Day’s defile’ is located in a mountain valley in central Idaho, within the Salmon River Mountains. This fourth death account, placing his demise around 1819 in Idaho, is considered by many historians to be the most credible.
Adding a final layer to the John Day mystery, it’s said he left a will, brought back by Donald McKenzie. The will supposedly bequeathed his cash to Miss Rachel MacKenzie and his property to Donald McKenzie, granted to him by the King of Spain for unknown services.
The Enduring Legacy of John Day USA
Despite the fragmented and sometimes contradictory information about his life and death, John Day’s name endures across the American landscape. The very fact that so many geographical landmarks are named after him suggests he was, as the original article notes, “an outstanding man.” His name graces not only the John Day River but also the John Day Dam on the Columbia River, the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, and the towns of John Day and Dayville in Oregon. This widespread recognition cements John Day USA as a lasting tribute to a figure who, while perhaps not fully understood, played a part in the rich tapestry of American exploration and history.
