Armitage, George H

From Lane Co Oregon

George H. Armitage was born in New York around 1822 and arrived in the future area of Coburg in 1848 as one of the first pioneers. The following year, William M. Stevens and he created the Springfield-Glenwood Ferry service. He married Sarah Jane Stevens, the daughter of William on November 21, 1851. He is listed in the Lane County Census for 1860. George is buried in Gillespie Cemetery along with his wife.

According to Frank L. Armitage, the ferry boat was used at the "Spores" site (other than the improvised type of Indian canoes lashed together) was constructed of planks sawed at the whip-saw mill that was run by water power, on his father's claim at the site of the present Game Bird Village suburb. George H. Armitage, Lane Co. pioneer of 1849 and his father in law, floated their 12 by 25 foot scow down to the crossing, where they operated the ferry using a rawhide rope stretched from bank to bank. When Joseph Lane took over as Governor of the newly organized Territory of Oregon, ferry operators were required to qualify and obtain a license. Jacob Spores obtained the license at Oregon City because Armitage and Stevens were unable to cross the river to apply due to high water. Spores then bought the ferry from its builders and former operators.