Socrates Tryon Sr
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Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon Sr (1816 - 1855)

Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon Sr
Born in Pawlet, Rutland, Vermont, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Husband of — married 5 Aug 1837 in ,Knox,Illinois,United Statesmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 39 in Oregon, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 31 Aug 2014
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Contents

Biography

Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon Sr. (1816-1855) was a pioneer physician in what became the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Vermont, he later lived in Iowa and California before moving to the Oregon Territory where he settled the land that now comprises part of the Tryon Creek State Natural Area in Portland and Lake Oswego. He was also a member of the 1846 Iowa Constitutional Convention. For a complete picture of his life see Wikipedia - Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon Sr.. See also The Oregon Encyclopedia.

Research Notes

Stories of his life vary significantly across various publications. They vary from he and his family traveling by steamship from Vermont to Hawaii and then to San Francisco, fleeing SF after the great fire of 1851, and finally settling in Oregon, to he and family all going west via wagon train. What is reasonably well documented is that after attending college he married Frances Safley and they moved to Linn County, Iowa, where they are found in the 1840 census. The period between 1840 and 1846 is uncertain but about 1844-1845 he went to Hawaii to recover from health problems. In 1846, after returning to Iowa, he was a member of the Iowa Constitutional Convention. He, along with his father and brothers Jesse, Dorlan, and Dennis, left Council Bluffs on the Oregon Trail 29 May 1849, settling near Portland, Oregon by Nov, 1849. He acquired land near Lake Oswego, and built a home and saw mill there. At that time, Francis and son Socrates traveled east to Connecticut (they are in the CT census 6 Sep 1850) and sailed via Panama to San Francisco. They stayed there for about a year while Socrates worked on the mill, and began the lumber business. After the great fire of May 1851, he returned to San Francisco and sent Francis and son to the homestead in Oregon. He returned to Oregon at some point and lived out his life there, primarily in the lumber business but, presumably also the local doctor.

Note that he and his wife and son are counted in Oregon in Dec 1850 for the census, though it appears that was more accurately their permanent address with Francis and son living temporarily in San Francisco. In 1850, Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, Sr., a pioneer settler of European descent, established a donation land claim at the south end of [what became known as] Tryon Creek canyon.[1]

From the archives of Dennis J Brevik from the old Tryon Union mailing list, I have found transcripts of letters sent from Socrates to his wife while he was in Hawaii, traveling to Oregon, and while working in San Francisco. They are posted here in the form I found them, already transcribed.

Sources

  1. Origin of name of Tryon Creek
  • "Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFL8-9Y1 : 4 November 2017), Socrates H. Tryon and Francis Safely, 08 May 1837; citing Knox, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,404,969.
  • "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHTG-QWJ : 15 August 2017), S H Tryon, Linn, Iowa Territory, United States; citing p. 165, NARA microfilm publication M704, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 102; FHL microfilm 7,790.
  • "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHHW-JVZ : 12 April 2016), S H Tryon, Washington county, Washington, Oregon Territory, United States; citing family 33, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
  • Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11436702), memorial page for Socrates Hotchkiss Tryon, Sr (1816–1855), Find A Grave Memorial no. 11436702, citing Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA ; Maintained by RB (contributor 45982754).

Other Sources

  • Title: History of Santa Clara County, California; Author: J C Fremont; Jose Castro; John D Sloat; Jno B Montgomery; et al; Publication: Alley, Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1881 Page: pp 709-10; On the 26th of May, 1849, a company was formed at Kanesville, Iowa, under the name of the "Badger Company," having for its object the mutual safety of its members while emigrating to California. At this meeting A. C. Erkson was Chairman and O. C. Wilder, of Wisconsin, Secretary. A Constitution and By-laws were drafted by five of its members, Mr. Erkson being Chairman of the committee. The following were elected officers: L. Cornwell, Colonel; Elias Hand, Lieutenant Colonel; Henry C. Skinner, Quartermaster; A. C. Erkson Recording Secretary. Following we here record the names of the entire company that they may be preserved for future reference: S. H. Tryon, S. L. Wallace, Justus Wells, Dennis Tryon, A. B. Dumont, Devillo Hakes, Jesse Tryon, Sr. and Jr., Carlon Tryon, Robt. Osborn, Price Kindreck, John Osborn, Nattey Osborn, John M. Taylor, Henry Cornwell, Abram Folek, Sr. and Jr., John Folck, Burr Bassett, Elias Cole, S. Northrup, N. B.Hand, I. P. Lyon, Elias Hand, Arvillo Hand, E. P. Hand, Lewis Parkhurst, Joseph Giess, J. B. Atwater J. S. Cochran, L. Clark, F. W. Merritt, J. B. Galloway, A. Vedder, W. Tabor, A. Ohlson.Wm. Daggett, S. Donham, Joseph Baldwin, D. Brinkhoof, H. C. Skinner, John F. French, Silas Helmer, Charles Moody, L. Ward, Volney Moody, R. G. Moody, Joseph Valier, L. Cornwell, John Spring, Richard Fuller, O. C. Wilder, J. L. Clark A. C. St. John, Wm. Souther, John Coad, John Simon, William Phillips, Charles McCabe, Ashel Bennett, D. I. Dilly, Elihu Bennett, Daniel Wheeler; A. P. Morey, A. Benson, Francis Bedford, Caleb Nordyke, Joseph Day, Win. Abbott, Rochard Statswell, Andrew Sluman, C. A. Hugh, Jarvis Whitman, C. D. and Geo. Buck, A. Westover, J. D. Tucker, Wm. L. Potts, Wm. Latta, Wm. Goodwin, Stephen Betts, Wesley and James Harrow, Harmon Corwin, Dorson Baldwin, G. M. and S. S. Williams, J. R. Coffin, Wm. K. Underhill, Daniel R. Funk, G. W. Worden, G. W. Harrington. A portion of this association left Council Bluffs, Tuesday, May 29, 1849, and the remainder on the 30th, on the 31st they camped together on the west bank of the Elk Horn river, and on the evening of June 3d, a meeting was called when S. H. Tryon, for himself and others, requested permission to withdraw from the company and be allowed to proceed in advance. On the 4th, nine of the wagons started on ahead; on the 6th, nine more followed, and without doubt joined their companions who had left two days previously.
  • Title: Iowa as it is in 1857; Author: Nathan H. Parker; Publication: Keen & Lee, Chicago, Ill., 1857; Page: p 233; CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF IOWA. (Adopted in Convention, May 18, 1846.); In Testimony Whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names:; ENOS LOWE, President.; Attest, Wm. THOMPSON, Sec.; Thomas Dibble, Erastus Hoskin, David Galland, Sulifand S. Ross, Shepherd Leffler, Curtis Bates, Wm. G. Coop, John Ronalds, Samuel A. Bissell, Socrates H. Tryon, Wareham G. Clark, William Hubbel, John J. Selman, George Berry, John Conrey, Josiah Kent, Joseph H. Hedrick, Sylvester G. Matson, S. B. Shelledy, James Grant, George Hobson, H. P. Haun, Stewart Goodrell, Sanford Harned, David Olmstead, G. W. Bowie, Alvin Saunders, William Steele, T. McCraney, F. K. O'Ferrall, J. Scott Richman.
  • Title: History of the Columbia River Valley; Author: Fred Lockley; Publication: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., Chicago, 1928; Page: p 662,669, The second Masonic body in Oregon was Willamette Lodge, of Portland, which began activity contemporaneously with the revival of Multnomah Lodge at Oregon City in 1850. Portland had grown to be a town of four hundred or five hundred persons, but as yet was not incorporated and was less important in rank than Oregon City and Salem. But the community had become large enough to need the intellectual and fraternal activities of a Masonic lodge. Multnomah Lodge, at Oregon City, was distant about four hours by canoe travel on Willamette River or by horseback on the rough trails through dense forests. Asa L. Lovejoy, afterwards a member of Multnomah Lodge, and Francis W. Pettygrove, had laid out the townsite of Portland in 1844, and John H. Couch, later a member of Willamette Lodge, had made his town addition adjoining.
         A meeting of Master Masons at Portland, June 24, 1850, was called by Brothers Benjamin Stark, Berryman Jennings and S. H. Tryon. This date was Saint John's day. It is recorded that fifteen brethren responded to the invitation, to meet together in a Masonic conclave, according to the ancient customs. The meeting took place in the store of Brother Joseph B. V. Butler, at or near First and Alder streets. The brethren unanimously decided to take steps preparatory to organization of a lodge at Portland. As the Grand Lodge of California had been created two months before, in April, the brethren decided to petition the Grand Master of that jurisdiction for a dispensation to open a lodge.
         The petition, dated June 24, 1850, drafted by Brother Benjamin Stark, was signed by the following brethren : James P. Long, Ralph Wilcox, Thomas J. Hobbs, Albert E. Wilson, William M. King, Benjamin Stark, Jacob Goldsmith, Nathaniel Crosby, Samuel W. Bell, S. H. Tryon, Dennis Tryon, Joseph B. V. Butler, Robert Thompson (not R. R.), J. W. Whaples and George H. Flanders. Benjamin Stark afterwards became Grand Sec­retary of the Oregon jurisdiction (1851), master of Willamette Lodge (1854), and Grand Master of the jurisdiction (1857) ; Berryman Jennings became the first Grand Master of the Oregon jurisdiction (1851).
    The following officers were recommended for Willamette Lodge, which was to be opened by dispensation: James P. Long, worshipful master; Ralph Wilcox, senior warden ; Thomas J. Hobbs, junior warden; William M. King, treasurer ; Benjamin Stark, secretary ; J. W. Whaples, senior deacon ; Dennis Tryon, junior deacon ; Joseph B. V. Butler, tyler. To obtain the dispensation from the Grand Master of California, Brothers Benjamin Stark and S. H. Tryon journeyed to San Francisco by steamship, and on July 5, 1850, obtained the document, signed by M. W. Jonathan D. Stevenson, first Grand Master of California, attested by John H. Gibson, Grand Secretary. Pursuant to this dispensation, Brother S. H. Tryon returned to Portland, carrying the proxy authority of the Grand Master of California, to organize the lodge and set it to work. This he accomplished on July 17, 1850, on the upper floor of John H. Couch's warehouse, in Front Street between Burnside and Couch streets.

    WILLAMETTE LODGE NO. 2

    John Elliott F. H. McKinney Ellis Walker
    Benjamin Stark Wm. W. Chapman Robert Hall
    Robert Thompson S. H. Tryon J. Menzie
    Thomas J. Dryer Dennis Tryon W. H. Harris
    George H. Flanders F. Dewitt Lewis Day
    A. C. Bonnell James Logie A. G. Tripp
    T. G. Robinson Eli Stewart Clark Drew
    J. Warren Davis James Loomis Isaac Kohn
    Fred A. Clark P. Fulkerson Andrew Weisenthal
    John H. Couch Z. C. Morton Charles Hutchins
    H. D. O'Bryant George H. Ambrose R. Hoyt
    D. H. Lownsdale
  • Title: Genealogical material in Oregon donation land claims Author: Dorothy O Johansen Publication: The Forum?, Portland, Or.?: 1957 Page: v 4, pp 45-6 Data: Text: NORTHROP, Jay G., 4453, Washington Co, T1S R1E sec 34, 160a; b 1831, N.Y; Arr Ore Oct 1853; SC 10 Mar 1854. Made fractional by DC of Wm. S. Torrence & S. H. Tryon. 18 July 1854 SC aff: Joseph F. Keen. Covered by DC of Wm. Collins, OC 733.
  • Source: S158 Title: History of Vermont Author: Zadock Thompson Publication: Burlington, 1853 Page: part 2, p 164 Data: Text: CASTLETON MEDICAL COLLEGE. ALUMNI AND HONORARY GRADUATES 1836. Spring Term.

    Charles C. Beman
    Reuben Blawis
    Sylvester Cartier
    Jesse A. Crowley
    John P. Cruger
    David M. Dake
    Harvy F. Deming
    Henry A. Guavin
    Milton W. Gray
    Sylvanus Huntoon
    Smith lnglehast
    John Mack
    Orville Reynolds.
    John F. Taylor
    Oscar F. Thomas
    Socrates H. Tryon
    Abram Van Woert
    Charles C. Wallin
    Charles Wood
    Ed. M. Wheeler
  • Source: S168 Title: United States Census, 1830
  • History of Linn County Iowa: From Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time
    Author: Luther Albertus Brewer, Barthinius Larson Wick
    Publication: Pioneer Publishing Company, 1911 Page: p 45
    A number of settlers came into Brown township during the early years, such as Jacob Mann, David Mann, his brother, William P. Earle, Asa Farnsworth, and many others. John Crow, father of Ed Crow, John Lynn, O. Bennett, Charles Pickney, Benj. Simmons, Solomon Peckham, and Alexander Rhotan were emigrants who settled here in 1838. All those who came that year and have been definitely corroborated, or who were there as real settlers, were the following: Samuel C. Stewart, Peter McRoberts, John Afferty, William Abbe, Israel Mitchell, Will Gilbert, J. G. Cole, Hiram Thomas, Joseph Carraway, Jacob Leabo, John Henry, J. Wilbert Stone, Osgood Shepherd, wife, father and several children, Robert Ellis, 0. S. Bolling, Mr. Ashmore, W. K. Farnsworth, Robert Osborn, Thomas Campbell, Perry Oxley, Will Vineyard, James Hunter, J. J. Gibson, Robert Deem, Michael Donahoo, William Chamberlain, Mr. Williams, Mr. Evans, J. B. Sargent, John Sargent, A. J. McKean, John Scott, H. W. Gray, S. H. Tryon, Anson Coles, Andrew Safely, Rev. Christian Troup, D. S. Hahn, Hiram Bales, Asher Edgerton, Peter Roland, John Stewart, J. E. Boyd, Philip Hull, John Young, Mr. Granger, L. H. Powell, John McCloud, Mr. Kemp, Listebarger brothers, and many others.
  • Title: Executive Journal of Iowa 1838-1841
    Author: Governor Robert Lucas
    Publication: State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City Iowa,1906 Page: pp 208-9
    Executive Department I. T.
    Burlington, Nov. 19. 1839.

    To the Hon. House of Representatives
    Gentlemen;

         I have this moment received your Resolution of this date in the following words: "Resolved, That his Excy. the Gove [r] nor, be requested to furnish this House with the dates of the several Sheriffs commissions by him issued throughout the Territory."

         Feeling a willingness at all times to furnish the House of Representatives with any information in my possession that may be satisfactory to them—I herewith, transmit by the bearer of your Resolution a list of the several Sheriffs commissioned by me within the Territory together with the date of the several commissions viz:—

    Linn County—Socrates Tryon 18 Jany. 1839

    who declined and W. Gray was appointed 10 July 1839




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Socrates by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. Y-chromosome DNA test-takers in his direct paternal line on WikiTree: Mitochondrial DNA test-takers in the direct maternal line: It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Socrates:

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Categories: Tryon Family in America, Tryon Name Study