-_._- - , I OREGON STATE LIBRARY I -IF( OREGON L. i �'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1111111111111111111111111111, 3 4243 00026551 8 1.40.::1 1 I JUL 11 .\� � :;:: STAT� �IBRARY HISTORIC CAPITOLS . OF OREGON '� .. " an illustrated chronology , ; .. " researched and written by William Allen Bentson with an introduction by Senator Mark O. Hatfield a publication of the OREGON LIBRARY FOUNDATION Salem, Oregon 97310-0642 ,{iF,: L. i , 40 c:l. : :.:: .:" :�:. B<.:- n t�, 0 n, lrJ i i 1 :l am (=l '/ 1 <:" r, " Histo�ic capitols of 0�e8on .:: . • � ::�: :��: , L - j - i!-Ck 1. IF' (, 1"1 " t" \ 1- 1 -\ :_I - ;:_- :t IT1 (1 1 -\ h:'-- n t �_ (, n , __ __ _ _ _ - _ _ _,: - -\ c (, {- 1.1 r- (.' 9 '-' II � l t- u � - listorlC C� HISTORIC CAPITOLS OF OREGON . an illustrated chronology researched and written by William Allen Bentson with an introduction by Senator Mark o. Hatfield a publication of the OREGON LIBRARY FOUNDATION Salem, Oregon 97310-0642 - Published by theOregon Library Foundation OregonState Library Building Salem, Oregon 97310·0642 State Library Board of Trustees Foundation Board of Directors Don Oakes, Chair Molly Kohnstamm. Ontario, Oregon President Larry Dalrymple, Vice-Chair Portland, Oregon Boardman, Oregon PeggyOliver KarenLytle Bla ha Vice President Lake Oswego, Oregon Lake Oswego, Oregon AudreyLane Carey Nina Cleveland LaGrande, Oregon Secretary-Treasurer NellieRipper Salem, Oregon North Bend, Oregon John Snider Wayne Robertson Medford, Oregon Hubbard, Oregon Jack Walsdorf Gail Schultz Portland, Oregon Portland, Oregon Author: William Allen Bentson, Major, A.U.S. Ret. Title: Historic Capitols of Oregon: An Illustrated Chronology ISBN: Oregon History Consultant: Cecil Edwards, Senate Historian Editor: Addie Dyal, Local History Specialist Original photography and photo copies: Alfred Jones, Salem, Oregon Original 1855 drawing: Murray Wade The third publication in the series Occasional Papers of the Oregon State Library. ISSN: 0892-3035 Series Editor: Wesley A. Doak, Oregon State Librarian Series Associate Editor: Jo Ann Sipple © 1987 Oregon Library Foundation ERRATA Photo credits should include: Original artwork by Trevor F. Barrell: upper drawirlg on p. 7 & drawing on p. 8 Date of Oregon's statehood (p. 10). should read: February 14. 1859 ----�-�- Preface The purpose of this narrative is to tell the origin of government in the Oregon Country and name the locations of early meetings held by settlers petitioning the occupation by the United States. Continuing on from these earlier meetings down to the present day, I have briefly described locations of assemblies held by the Provisional Government, Territorial Government, and the State Government. I was prompted to write this narrative due to both of my maternal grandparents and great-grandparents being 1847 and 1849 settlers in the Oregon Country. My great-grandfather, Samuel Allen, was one of the original building commissioners when the Capitol building was being constructed in 1872. Experiences from my childhood in Salem furthered my interest in historical events. My first residence in Salem was so close to the Capitol building, destroyed in fire in 1935, that the winter's sun cast a shadow of the ,dome over my house. I spent many hours exploring every nook and corner of the building and was fascinated by the historical contents therein. I arrived early on the scene of the Capitol fire, in the early evening of April 25, 1935, and to this day I have a vivid memory of the tragedy. William Allen Bentson ii --------------- Introduction As a boy growing up in Salem, I shared with the author the experience of watching our state capitol burn to the ground. With a mixture of sorrow and curiosity, I wondered what that event meant for Oregon. How would the state conduct its business? Would the seat of government be moved away from Salem to Portland, or maybe Oregon City? Later, during my school years, my interest and knowledge regarding the state seat of government was broadened by serving as a guide in the new capitol. It was on those Sunday afternoons, while showing visitors through the building, that my appetite for Oregon history was whetted and challenged. In this book, William Bentson has hit upon a basic tenent of historical perspective - buildings are but the symbols of history. By chronicling the succession of capitol buildings and sites, he has opened the door for the reader to delve more deeply into the history of Oregon in all its fascinating aspects. It has been a concern for me that the history of our country has been predominately national in focus. Because the state governments of the east were, in effect, national entities at one time, they have been historically chronicled in great detail. The heritage of the western states is less well known if only because they were formed under the control of a strong and growing union. In addition, the relative youth of the northwest states tends to make the study of the older, more established eastern states more predominant. It is my belief, however, that the events leading up to and following Oregon statehood are every bit as vital to an Oregonian's frame of reference as the Louisiana Purchase, Plymouth Rock, and the Boston Tea Party. I am proud to recommend this book as a valuable resource that will undoubtedly focus new interest on our state and regional history. Mark O. Hatfield United States Senator iii TABLE OF CONTENTS General Credits Page 1 Preface Page 11 Introduction Page 111 Table of Contents Page IV Text of Work Page 1 Author's Bibliography Page 20 Index Page 22 Notes About the Author Page 24 IV HISTORIC CAPITOLS OF OREGON In order to portray the different removals of Oregon's seat of government, together with mention of the various buildings occupied as a legislative hall, a resume' of pioneer history must be given, embracing much concerning early endeavors to effect a stable commencement. The first step taken to secure a government in Oregon by Americans was made March 16, 1838.1 Thirty-six Willamette Valley settlers met in the Methodist Mission on French Prairie and signed a petition to be sent to Congress, setting forth the resources and conditions of the Oregon Country and petitioning occupation by the United States. On March 26, 1838, the Rev. Jason Lee set out for Washington, carrying with him the petition. The petition was presented in the Senate on January 28, 1839, by Senator Lewis F. Linn of Missouri and after its reading was tabled and neglected. In June 1840, another petition proposed by Thomas J. Farnham and drafted by the Rev. David Leslie, bearing seventy signatures, was delivered to Congress by Farnham, a part of it being worded: "Your petitioners wherefore pray the Congress of the United States of America to establish, as soon as may be, a territorial government in Oregon territory."2 Knowing that many months would elapse before the matter could be settled, the pioneers addressed themselves to the task of providing such government as they believed circumstances required for peace and security in the meantime. A meeting was called on February 7, 1841 at Champoeg,3 for the purpose of consulting upon steps necessary for the foundation of laws and the election of officers to execute them.4 1Lang, H. O. , HlSTORYOF TH EWILIAMETfE VAILEY, 1885, p. 240. 2Last line of the petition. 3Champoeg is located on the east bank of the Willamette River in the northern tip of Marion County. 4"Oregon Native Son," May 1901, p. 431. 1 Jason Lee's "First Oregon Mission," at edge of French Prairie in the Willamette Valley (Ore. Historical Society). The next meeting was held at the Rev. Jason Lee's Methodist Mission, a few miles north of the present site of Salem (then known as Chemeketa)5 on February 17 and 18, 1841, at which time nearly all of the settlers were on hand. Officers were elected, committees appointed, and an adjournment taken until the first Tuesday in June. Before the adjournment a Supreme Judge had to be elected with probate powers. Dr. Ira L. Babcock was elected and on April 15, 1841, authorized Rev. David Leslie to administer the estate of the late Ewing Young, a prominent settler who possessed considerable property, and had no known heirs. The June meeting did not take place, there being no need for further meeting as there were no problems to be settled. During June 1841, Charles Wilkes, U. S. Navy, commanding an exploring expedition, visited the Willamette Valley. In his Narrative of his visit he writes, "These people were quite alive on the subject of laws, courts, and magistrates, including governors, judges, etc. I was here informed that a committee had been appointed to wait upon me on my arrival at the mission, to hold a consultation relative to the establishment of settled governments. "6 However, there were at the time two factions concerned with the formation of government. Father Francis N. Blanchet of the Catholic Mission, located at the site of the present town of St. Paul, objected to this move and advised his people to refuse to cooperate. In his opinion there were not enough settlers in the Willamette Valley to warrant the establishment of a constitution, and to his knowledge no crime had yet been committed. The Methodist Mission and its followers, though in the minority, were desirous of establishing a government. 5 0REGON BLUE BOOK, 1951-52, p. 190. 6 Wilkes. Charles, U.S. N .• NARRATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES EXPLORING EXPEDmON DURINGTHE YEARS 1838. 1839, 1840. 1841, 1842, Vo1. IV, p. 348. 2 On June 7, 1841, Captain Wilkes arrived at the Methodist Mission and met with a committee of five, principally lay members, who asked his advice relative to the establishment of law, etc.