William Holden Willson was born in Charlestown, New Hampshire, April 4,1805 of English ancestry. He lived for some time in Massachusetts, working as a carpenter and ship’s cooper. Known as cheerful, affectionate, sympathetic and mechanically gifted, he sailed on the Hamilton from Boston July 28, 1836 (along with 13 others) via Hawaii to Oregon. He studied medicine with Dr. Elijah White on the trip out, arriving at Fort Vancouver may 17,1837.

In April 1839 he traveled to Nisqually with Rev. David Leslie, acting superintendent of the Oregon Mission, to build a new mission house. Assisted by William Kittson of the Hudson Bay Company in selecting a site, he began construction on an 18’ X 32’ X 9’ high log structure ( later an 18’ wing was added on the west side). A stockade was erected around the building, leaving sufficient grounds in the enclosure for garden purposes and the work of the mission. Hudson Bay Company men assisted with the construction.

Returning to the Willamette Valley to await the arrival of the missionaries on the Lausanne, he was assigned to the Nisqually Mission in the secular department, and left with the party for Nisqually. Upon arrival, he set to work to complete the building of the mission house, which was accomplished in three weeks. He married Chloe A Clarke on August 16,1840. Transferred to the Willamette Mission in June 1841, he later left the Mission due to ill health. However, he preached and practiced medicine the remainder of his life.

Willson was involved early in establishing a Provisional Government in Oregon Territory, which came to fruition, in May 1843, thus ruling out a British attempt to establish an independent government. Willson served as first Treasurer.

Willson claimed land on which Salem was first platted, naming the town after its Massachusetts namesake. He also served as a member of the Oregon Exchange Company which stamped the first coinage in the American Territory on the Pacific Coast. William H. Willson died April17,1856 at the age of 51.