John Minto IV

John Minto IV (October 10, 1822 – February 25, 1915) was an American pioneer born in Wylam, England. He was a prominent sheep farmer in the U.S. state of Oregon and a four-time Republican representative in the state legislature. Minto also volunteered for the militia during the Cayuse War and years later helped locate Minto and Santiam passes through the Cascade Mountains east of Salem, Oregon.

Early life His father, John Minto III, was a coal miner and a gunsmith in England, with family roots tracing back to Scotland. His siblings were Margaret, Mary, William, Jane, Annie, Robert, Isabell, and Sarah. The Minto family immigrated to the United States in 1840, sailing on the ship Rocious which arrived in New York City on June 26, 1840. However, doctor McLoughlin was out and they first dealt with James Douglas, McLoughlin’s later replacement as Chief Factor.

In Oregon, Minto began working for Peter H. Burnett making cedar rails, before logging for a sawmill. Then in 1845 he purchased the original Methodist Mission claim at Mission Bottom from David Carter, and began farming. ) in 1867 and put it to use in agriculture. Then, from information he received from John B. Waldo of the Oregon Supreme Court, Minto surveyed a lower pass further south in 1882, now known as Santiam Pass. Part of the group for this survey was Captain L. S. Scott, who had been in charge of Fort Hoskins during part of the Civil War. The western approach to Minto Pass is now Forest Service Trail #3471, which connects with the Pacific Crest Trail a east via a difficult trail. The area is now contained in the Mount Jefferson Wilderness.

John Minto died in Salem on February 25, 1915, at the age of 92. Minto-Brown Island Park in Salem is partly on Minto's former farm.

Works authored The Number and Condition of the Native Race in Oregon When First Seen by White Men, Oregon Historical Quarterly (1900)