The Late John D. Dement

Original Headline: The Late John D. Dement — Brief Sketch of His Career in the Mexican War—Shipwrecked—On a Government Mission, Etc

The late John D. Dement, whose unexpected death mention was made yesterday morning, was born in the District of Columbia, in November 1825, and obtained his education at Georgetown, D. C. At the outbreak of the Mexican war he joined the mounted rifles, U.S.A., remaining with the army until peace was restored. He was breveled a second lieutenant for gallantry at Monterey, and subsequently was made a full second lieutenant for bravery on the field of battle. Subsequently he was promoted to a first Lieutenancy of artillery, U.S.A., for his action as the leader of the "Forlorn Hope" in assaulting the castle of Chapuilepec, the last stand made by the Mexicans prior to the occupation of the City of Mexico by the Americans.

At the close of the war he went with his command to Jefferson barracks, Mo., and he was ordered to Fort Steilacoom, W. T. Subsequently he was ordered to Fort Moultrie, Charleston, S. C., and in 1853 he resigned his commission, coming to this state and engaging in mercantile pursuits with his brother in Oregon City. The deceased was also prominently identified at that time with early steamboat and railroad interests up to 1867, when he went to San Francisco. Since 1872, however, he lived principally in this state.

Mr. J. M. Frazer, of this city who, at the time of the loss at sea of the steamship Central America, was second officer, has written the following which, may be of interest at this remote date:

One of the Survivors

One more of the survivors of that ill-fated steamship, Central American, has passed away—John D. Dement. He was a passenger on that steamer, then running between Aspinwall and New York. I was second officer on that vessel. I became acquainted with him at 8 o'clock A.M., Sunday, September 13, 1857, being the hour he and a companion were picked up by the bark Ellen, carrying the Norwegian flag. Fifty-nine of us were picked up from the Atlantic ocean from 8 P.M. the 12th to 8 A.M. the 13th. Mr. Dement and companion were the last two taken on board of the bark.

In the afternoon Mr. Dement and others called a meeting in the cabin to devise some means for landing at some port in the United States, as the Ellen was bound to Gresinock, Scotland, and was short of provisions for so many people in excess of her crew. The captain of the bark was opposed to. He promised to place us all aboard the first American ship he should meet going west, but in one short hour thereafter he changed his mind and concluded to go to Norfolk bay, as far up as Old Point Comfort. Mr. Dement and two or three other persons put their heads together and raised a subscription of some $2000 for the captain and crew; also requested me, being a surviving officer of the steamship, to agree that the steamship owners should give to the bark $2500 as a charter to take us into a United States port, in excess of the subscribed amount, which I readily consented to. The company were equally ready to pay the amount as soon as notified by me of the promise. Mr. Dement, without a dollar to his name, he having lost all he had when the ship went down, headed the subscription with $500, followed by others equally poor with himself, but who had friends ashore that would meet it for them. I speak of this last matter to show his generosity under adverse circumstances.

Mr. Frazer adds he has known Mr. Dement intimately since that time, and that he had learned to respect and love the man. He was pained and shocked on reading of his death, for the announcement came so suddenly and unexpectedly. Only a few days ago Mr. Frazer had talked with the deceased on the streets, and he was in splendid health.

In 1850 the deceased was the officer sent by the government to rescue white prisoners in the custody of Indians on Queen Charlotte's islands, Alaska, in which mission he proved successful.

[The Oregonian, 25 Jan 1891, p16]