His oldest son was Joseph, born of an Indian woman that was McLoughlin's first wife. He had a short life from 1809 to 1848 or 49. His son, John Jr., was born August 18, 1812. He was not a good student and was sick all the time. In 1828, he was expelled from school, but the Company gave him a chance by giving him a clerk's job. In 1840, he was sent to British Columbia, with his brother in law. While there, he seemed to be drunk much of the time and dealt poorly with the French Canadian and Hawaiian workers and Indians. On April 20, 1842, he was shot and killed. He was only 29. McLaughlin's daughter Maria Elizabeth was the eldest daughter. She was born in 1814 at Lac la Pluie or Ft. William. She was plagued by frail health and could not make the trip to Oregon. His second daughter, Maria Eloisa, was considered McLoughlin's favorite. She was born at Ft. William on Lake Superior in 1817. She was a great favorite at the fort. She took over hostess duties from her mother, who gladly gave it up. In 1838, she married William Glen Rae, the chief clerk at the fort. In 1840, they went to Ft. Stikine, to establish a new post, with Rae as chief trader. David was the youngest son. He was also born at Ft. William on February 11, 1821. His early education was at Ft. Vancouver. David worked as a clerk at first. He was bored and alone since all his other siblings had left. He prospected in Idaho and British Columbia. About 1866, he married and rejoined the Hudson's Bay Company at a company store in British Columbia and later Idaho. Thomas McKay was McLoughlin's wife's son by a former marriage. He led wilderness expeditions in the Willamette Valley, Fraser River Valley, the Umpqua, Klamath Country, and Snake River Valley. In 1834, McLoughlin sent him to establish Ft. Boise to rival Nathaniel Wyeth's Ft. Hall.
McLoughlin was very successful in maintaining relations with the Indians. He also doctored them when necessary. Diseases were worse among some tribes who frequently prostituted their own women, who then spread diseases. McLoughlin opened the first school west of the Rockies in 1832. John Ball was the teacher.
McLoughlin read the church services himself until a regular minister arrived. Reverend Herbert Beaver and wife Jane came in 1836 to do that duty. They were highly disdainful of the primitive conditions around them. They were bigoted in their religious views. Right away, they did not get along with John McLoughlin, especially after they insulted his half-breed wife. They did not want to associate with the Indians, who they'd been hired to teach. Fortunately, they left only two
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