born at sea oceanna

"The Queen Anne-style Captain William Polk Gray House
was built around 1899 Captain Gray was born in 1845
in Oregon City. In 1860, he began a career
on the steamboats of the Columbia River. 
He married Ocia Falkland Bush,
who as born at sea 
near the Falkland Islands
aboard her father's vessel. "

                         *
born at sea aboard her dad's boat,
makes one a fckland
wishbone of sorts, so the corner balcony porch
in her Columbia River queen anne victorian
could espy her captain her husband her man
pilot up or down the biggest power around
the river untamed born at sea
born at sea aboard her dad's boat
born at sea aboard her dad's boat
born at sea born at sea born
at sea oceanna
                          *


William Polk Gray was born to William Henry and Mary Dix Gray in 1845 at Oregon City. He was the second of six children. 

Gray was introduced to sailing at an early age; at fifteen, he operated a mail boat out of Astoria, Oregon. At sixteen, he became Captain of a four-man crew primarily composed of Native Americans, which carried freight along the Frasier River. 

Gray led expeditions to Alaska during the Alaskan Gold rush, ferried supplies and troops during the Indian Wars, carried automobiles up and down the Columbia, and ferried cargo across the Snake River.

 Gray and his wife claimed land in Pasco, WA, where he became involved in city council and commerce. 

He founded the first Congregational Church in Pasco in collaboration with Luther and Clara Wilkins.

W. P. Gray and his wife built their home in Pasco, WA, and Gray was employed with the Northern Pacific Railroad as captain of the steamer Frederick Billings. Three of the Gray daughters died from diphtheria during a two-day period.

 The Grays survived their other two children, Willeta and Hawthorne. 

Willeta passed away in 1922, and his last son, Hawthorne, died tragically in a successful attempt to earn the world record for high altitude in a free balloon in 1929. His writings reflect a deep sadness at the loss of his children.


William Polk Gray died on October 26 1929 at his home in Pasco, WA.

_____________

"MARRIAGE BIOGRAPHY: (Excerpts from 'Reminiscences of Capt. W. P. Gray, Page 344)

"I was married on October 27, 1868, at Portland, Oregon. My wife's name was Oceana Falkland Bush. She was the adopted daughter of Mrs. Hawthorne, of Portland, a pioneer family after whom Hawthorne avenue and Hawthorne Park are named. 

"My wife was born on her father's brig, the 'Rising Sun,' just off of the Falkland Islands while on a voyage around the Horn. I met her for the first time at the celebration over the driving of the first spike in the Oregon and California railroad in East Portland, April 16, 1868."

"I went to the river to take the ferry. I happened to meet my wife's adopted mother, who had just come over. I told her that I was going over to see Ocea and asked her to save me the trip by having Ocea get ready as soon as possible, so that we could be married that evening. She said it was impossible. I told her I was used to doing the impossible and I would make all arrangements and be there that evening. 

The ferry quit running at 8 o'clock. I arranged with them to make an extra trip for us and promised them ten dollars an hour for whatever time it took after 8 o'clock. I hurried down town where I bought a wedding ring, hired the necessary cabs, secured a license, arranged with a preacher to be there and got Bob Bybee to stand up with me as best man. 

I went out to see how Ocea was getting along. I asked her if she was all ready to be married that night. I never saw any one more surprised. Her mother had thought it was a crazy notion of mine and decided not to tell Ocea anything about it. 

At first she said she couldn't possibly be married that night, but when I told her that the preacher would be there, the cabs were hired, the ferry would take us over and it would be very awkward to stop the proceedings, she decided we had better be married at once. She got Hannah Stone, who is now Mrs. Dr. Josephi, to act as bridesmaid."

Seven children were born from that union: 'three of the Gray daughters died from diphtheria during a two-day period. The Grays survived their other two children, Willeta and Hawthorne.' (5 of 7 children mentioned)

‘Mr. Gray secured 19 acres on the bank of the Columbia River for $100 where city of Pasco is now located, and built their home. Mr. Gray later secured 80 acres, extending from the river to the railroad section where Pasco is located; he platted 50 acres of it as an addition to Pasco before the plat of Pasco itself was filed!’

'Mr. Gray was the local land agent for the Northern Pacific. He had charge of the selling of their lots and acreage. He was County Commissioner, a dairy with 10 cows, 100 hogs, and had over 200 horses, and was feeding over 400 of the Northern Pacific employees. In addition to this, he was attending every Republican state convention.' (to keep the flow of the Columbia River unimpeded)

"By the summer of 1886 he had 45 different kinds of trees growing on his place at Pasco, without irrigation.

 In addition to a large number of vegetables usually grown in the Northwest, he successfully matured peanuts, cotton and sugar cane."

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176099614/oceanna-falkland-gray