Oregon Outcast: John Beeson's Struggle for Justice for the Indians, 1853-1889

by Jan Wright

During his lifetime, John Beeson (1803-1889) was called the Indian Apostle, Father Beeson, the Alpha and Omega of the Indian cause, a monomaniac, a depraved liar, vile, fanatical, and venerable. Because of his insistence on justice for the Indians, he was politically disqualified for residency in Territorial Oregon. His passion for justice and human rights in the face of adversity still resonate today.

234 pages, Paperback

Published September 6, 2018

Reviews

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book after the author spoke to our group in March, 2021. John Beeson was an interesting character and an ardent spokesman for the rights of Indians. His is not an easy story to like and that tends to color one's reaction to the book as a whole. However, the book is well written and well researched. Imagine my surprise to find that when Beeson lived in LaSalle County in Illinois he was only a few miles from where I later grew up. The Alameda fire on Sept 8, 2020 burned the portion of the towns of Talent and Phoenix including the author's home where she lost a large amount of her original documentation and research.