The story of the Amos and Esther Short family began about a hundred and fifty years ago.Starting out from St. Joseph, Missouri, Esther and Amos Meade Short and their children, traveled by wagon train and river boat, arriving in the Oregon Territory in December 1845.
Esther, who was one-half Algonquin Indian, was born in 1806 and her husband, Amos, was born in 1810. They were married in 1829. During the next 21 years, they had 12 (or 13) children, ten of whom survived both parents. Their youngest child, Hannah Emeline, b. 1850, was the first white child born to American parents in Vancouver.
The Shorts moved to Vancouver in 1846 or 1847, jumping Henry Williamson's claim. They built a log cabin and raised potatoes.
When the Donation Land Claim act was enacted, Amos filed his claim for 661 acres in 1848. The area included most of the present downtown Vancouver. The area was heavily forested except near the western boundary of the claim where level bottomland afforded an opportunity to raise crops.
In January 1853, Amos died when the Vindalia went down near the mouth of the Columbia River. He had been on a trip to San Francisco. All hands and passengers perished.
After Amos' death, Esther made "Vancouver" official when she filed for the Town Plat of Vancouver on July 28, 1855. The City of Vancouver was incorporated in 1857.
Esther Short died in 1862. She was buried in the Military Reservation and was later moved to the Old City Cemetery.
Esther left the City of Vancouver a five acre site in her will that is now known as Esther Short Park, Washington state's oldest public square. If the city does not use the land as a park, the land reverts back to the Short family.
Esther Short Park hosts activities year round with a variety of events, programs, concerts, food vendors and other activities. Park Closed: 10 P.M. To 5 A.M.
Instructions for logging waymark: visit Esther Short Park. Log your impressions. A photograph is required of the park sign with you and/or your GPSr in the picture.