Marker reads "Came to Oregon 1871 from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Among the first to establish Tualatin Plains Church and Cemetery."∼William Chalmers was born in Scotland in 1817, his father, Alexander Chalmers, who was a freeman tenant on the farm 'Old What', on the Mains of Old What, New Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland died in about 1822 when William was only in his fifth year. William Chalmers succeeded to the same farm, which had been the family home. The lease then current expired in 1850, when, at 33 years of age, William Chalmers obtained a lease of 21 years. William Chalmers obtained the management of the farm, much of the land was a barren waste, and by many it would have been allowed to lie waste. The farm was owned by Mr. Alexander D. Fordyce, Laird of Bruckley Castle. Mr. Chalmers took a different view, making an agreement with Mr. Fordyce that, if he could clear off the land that was covered with rocks and so forth, the Laird would either deed the land to him or let him work the land rent free. And, by indomitable energy and a liberal application of manures and crop rotation William Chalmers converted the whole into arable ground. After improving the farm, he turned his attention to stock and entered into the breeding of prize Shorthorn (Durham)cattle and Clydesdale horses. William married Catherine Metcalfe at the Mains of Old What on March 20, 1845. They had 11 children: Their first child Helen was born 8/27/1846, ten more children followed; Alexander 4/7/1848,William 1/16/1850,Francis 11/18/1851,Catherine 11/25/1853, John 10/22/1855, Ann Mackie 7/6/1857, Mary 10/5/1860, James M.P. 6/13/1864, Mary 10/5/1867, Margaret Smith 8/31/1869 (first person laid to rest at Old Scotch Church cemetery).

In 1868, Mr. Chalmers sent his eldest son, Alexander, being sponsored by John Center, a former neighbor and produce distributor in San Francisco who was an investor in the first U.S. continental railroad, to explore possibilities for the family on the west coast of the United States. In 1870, Mr. Chalmers paid a visit according to the advice of his son, Alexander (1848 Scotland -1942 Oregon), who said there was good opportunity to raise cattle on the west coast of the United States. After searching in Sonoma and Napa California Counties, they decided that the soil was too dry and the climate too warm for their Scot Durham cattle. They went by stage coach north to Oregon where they toured Marion, Yamhill, and Washington Counties with a realtor driving a span of horses. William Chalmers was so attracted by the beauty of the Willamette Valley that he bought the Ben Cornelius farm in Washington County of 1,000 acres, three houses, other improvements, livestock, and equipment. Some interesting excerpts from William Chalmers letters penned during this journey across the U.S. to his wife, Catherine, in Scotland:

"On Our Way to Queenstown Island, 3rd June, 1870....We went most of us on deck again, and watched with interest the sailors, who were ordered aloft, scrambling on cross beams, loosening and unloosening lines and sails. However we have got no sail up yet, as the wind is right in our teeth."...

From a hotel in Omaha, Nebraska "...There is room for us all or almost any number you'd think on in this country. I have got a great sight to-day of a lot of Indian chiefs. They are lodged in this hotel, about 12 of them I think. Many others are encamped they say in the bush near by. The chiefs are all the biggest and bravest men, and the chief the biggest of all, named Red Cloud. They are big men these, and a variety of ornaments about their garments. One has ear rings of about 3 inches in diameter, and not quite so strong as our bull rings. They had cast out with some man and scalped him, and they say he is now in pursuit of them, and is determined to shoot his offender the first chance he gets of him, and then a great row is expected, which will likely end in the mutiny or imprisonment of a number of Indians, their bulk and strength being of no consequence before the firearms of the white man."...... "After leaving Omaha, there were as fine looking prairie lands as any I have seen, and growing splendid crops. We have been crossing Nebraska and passing Colorado, Indian colonies, and we have had raids of military men and horses, thirties and forties, at stages as we came along."

"American Exchange Hotel Portland, Oregon 5:30 a.m. 26th July, 1870.... "The more I see of this country the more I like it, and almost everybody is the same and say they would never leave it for any other.They seem to live remarkably easy, and don't need to work much for a living, unless they are inclined, and a great portion of them are not inclined, and it is so pleasant to stroll or roll about here. They do seem to enjoy themselves, they have so many choices of enjoyment. Sometimes to the hill top, where the massive pine has been cut down, and some of them form a good fence, lying flat on the ground 150 feet or more, lots of berries of different kinds growing without planting or cultivation, and fruit of almost every variety so plentiful that no one seems to think anything about it. It surely has been designed or is destined for the abode of man, a mighty nation. The river ( Willamette River)is a great resort for bathing and swimming to the young men. I frequently go and wash in some secluded place, but don't intend swimming unless I had you with a string to hold on to."

Mr. Chalmers returned to Scotland and sailed with his family, a selection of 20 of his most prized Short Horn Durham cattle and two registered Clydesdale breeding stock from Aberdeenshire on the Allan liner steamship, 'Mr. David'. Another ship transporting the family furniture rounded the infamous Horn at Good Hope-- going down took many of the family possessions. The party landed in New York on 13, June, 1871. En route, the prized Clydsdales perished and the elegant Short Horn Durham stock was badly injured. The cattle were sold in New York to Canadian breeders. The train trip to the west coast and the side wheeler trip on the Moses Taylor (Rolling Moses) from San Francisco up the coast to Portland, Oregon was not advisable for cattle in such delicate condition. The family proceeded at once to Oregon, and settled at Cornelia Farm where they purchased new Oregon Short Horn (Durham) stock from William Ladd of Portland. New Clydesdales would be the next acquisition. During his time at 'Cornelia', William diverted more or his attention to breeding Clydesdales and prize Shorthorn Durham bulls. William always maintained well bred horses and cattle. Cattle from 'Cornelia' carried prizes at all district shows. William Chalmers and his son, Alex, drove their cattle to summer pasture and used the railways to transport their cattle to more distant shows and exhibitions. Their crops were harvested by their regular farm hands and Chinese labor.

William Chalmers and his wife, Catherine, returned from their annual trip to the coast on Saturday, Sept. 12th, 1891. The next day William drove with two of his grandchildren to church (The Old Scotch Church, of which he was one of the 12 founding members). He and other family members went out that day into the field to see his prize Short Horn bull, Rock Brook Duke, who won first prize among eleven aged bulls at the Oregon State Fair in Salem the year before. The bull became agitated at Mr. Chalmers approach, which was unusual for this bull when strangers were near him. Mr. Chalmers continued to drive the bull back, but instead of turning away, the bull made a jump at Mr. Chalmers goring him with the point of his horn just behind the back of the ear -- a lethal blow. Three of his grandsons carried him over the fence. Then, the other boys ran as fast as they could for life and tumbled over the fence. William Chalmers son, Dr. James Chalmers, (one of the original purchasers of the initial small parcel of land for Oregon Health Sciences University at Marquam Hill in the late 19th c), pronounced 20 minutes later..."all is over..."

William Chalmers was a religious man, a breeder of registered cattle and horses and a sporting man. He was buried at the Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church (The Old Scotch Church) Hillsboro, Oregon September, 1891. His journal "Letters on a Journey To The West In Summer 1870" was published at the behest of a private friend for private circulation in Scotland - 1871. (Some excepts of which are quoted above.)

William Chalmers brother Dr. John Chalmers, The London Missionary Society, Hong Kong beginning in 1852. Dr. John Chalmers was the first person to translate the Bible to Cantonese.